Michelle Francis, 47, living in England, went to her family doctor, thinking that her tinnitus, fatigue and dizziness were caused by a sinus infection she constantly experienced. The family doctor stated that these ringings were due to infection and prescribed antibiotics for treatment. Despite the end of the antibiotic treatment, her complaints continued and she felt blurred vision, ringing in her ears and numbness in one foot and hand, and Michelle consulted the doctor again.
HE GAINED A LOT OF WEIGHT AND LOST ENERGY
Stating that she could not sleep due to tinnitus at the doctor, Michelle stated that they gave antidepressants for this problem. Michelle, who works with adults with physical and learning disabilities: “I would normally describe myself as a lively, cheerful person. But because of what I went through, my energy had been zeroed and I was feeling very bad. I gained a lot of weight, slept all the time and didn’t want to socialize with my friends. Things were so bad that it was difficult to cook and take a shower. I was very grumpy around the people I loved. I felt bad for treating them badly, which made me sleep more.”
7 CM TUMOR DETECTED
Michelle, who could not even move a chair 1 year after the antibiotic treatments, stated that she had a seizure in her kitchen and collapsed on the floor. As a result of the scans, it was said that he revealed a 7 cm tumor between his brain and skull. The tumor was on the left side of his head and was pressing down on his optic nerve, causing constant headaches.
THE TUMOR SUPPRESSED ALL EMOTIONS
He went to the hospital for further testing the same day and spent the next 13 days in a ward.
On January 18, Michelle underwent a six-hour craniotomy surgery to remove the tumor, which was later found to be a noncancerous second-degree meningioma.
Some of her hair was shaved and there were 40 metal staples holding her scalp together. Michelle tells Sun Health, “For the next six days, as I was recovering on the ward, I started to feel very emotional. By then, I realized that the tumor had suppressed all my normal emotions – I hadn’t cried once in the last two years, even when my doctor told me I had a brain tumor! “
LOSE THE SENSES OF TASTE AND ODOR DUE TO THE TUMOR
Michelle was discharged from the hospital and sent home to recover. However, she later had to return for a 90-minute surgery after she developed a serious infection in her wound. She lost her sense of smell and taste as a result of her ordeal, and doctors are unsure whether they will return. Michelle is currently on anti-seizure medication and cannot drive. She was also diagnosed with PTSD and was warned that because her tumor sits above her optic nerve and only part of it can be removed, she may grow back in the future and require further surgery or radiotherapy.
BRAIN TUMORS TAKING MORE LIVES THAN CANCER
Michelle said, “I went to hell and came back. But I know I was one of the lucky ones. My surgery was a success, my tumor was not cancerous, and I survived. Now I want to shout from the rooftops to raise awareness about brain tumors that take more lives than any other cancer.” Michelle stated that her boyfriend Dave, friends, family and neighbors were very supportive during this difficult process.