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National brain tumour research funding needs to increase to £35 million a year

Glenn “beating the drum” for young patients

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10 August 2023

A woman who was given six months to live after she was diagnosed with a brain tumour, which had been missed on a scan years before, is sharing her story to raise awareness.

Glenn Lilley was diagnosed with a meningioma in 2021 after she collapsed at home. An MRI scan confirmed a large mass on her brain and Glenn was warned without surgery she would die within months.

Four years earlier Glenn began suffering from tinnitus and vertigo, but following a scan an ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT) said there was no cause for concern.

Following the discovery of her tumour, Glenn underwent an 11-hour surgery and is now monitored with regular scans. She said: “I live with impairments to my vision and I‘m deaf in one ear. I have headaches but all of this is manageable in the grand scheme of things. Although I was told it was low-grade, there is every chance it will come back and if it does then I will likely need radiotherapy as further surgery could leave me with life-changing injuries.

“I am pleased with the way things played out for me. In 2017 the tumour wasn’t immediately life-threatening, and I wouldn’t have wanted to spend the past four years knowing about it and being seen as poorly.”

Now, Glenn is sharing her story to raise awareness of our petition calling for increased research funding.

Speaking to ITV West Country, she added: “I’m not sure that many people realise brain tumours are the biggest killer of children and people under the age of 40 than any other cancer.

“I’ve encouraged everyone who will listen to sign the petition. I’ve had a wonderful life and feel very lucky, now I am beating the drum for the young people living with the disease.”

Sign and share our petition to help us reach 100,000 signatures by the end of October: www.braintumourresearch.org/petition