Mum who complained of toothache gets diagnosed with brain tumour

A mum was left blindsided when a visit to the doctor for a painful toothache resulted in a shocking brain tumour diagnosis.

Emma Webster, 29, had already been waiting to get a root canal surgery back in April 2018 when she started suffering from an excruciating toothache.

At first, doctors suspected that Emma was suffering from neuralgia, a stabbing pain due to an irritated or damaged nerve, and was medicated for the suspected disorder for six months.

Eventually, when symptoms like toothaches and blurred vision continued to bother her, Emma was sent to the neurology department at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.

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After having an MRI scan, Emma was given the devastating news that she had a brain tumour in her right eye.

Emma, an administrator from Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, said: “When I found out It didn’t sink in at all.

“I even went back to work, but later that day when I was on the phone I broke down. I kept thinking 'Why me? What have I done wrong?'

“I could only think of Alfie and what would happen to him if he lost his mum. I was ready to start planning my funeral."

In March 2019, Emma had an operation to remove 70 percent of the benign tumour before moving back in with her parents, along with her fiancé Kieran McGurk, 31, and their son Alfie, seven.

“I was in and out of hospital for months after,” she said. "I had trouble with my balance and still had bad headaches.”

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It was another eight months of suffering before the medication finally started to make Emma feel like herself again.

Although she still suffers from root pain, Emma is now able to look forward to her future and is expecting a second child with Kieran this October.

“I can’t believe I’ve now got to the stage I am not always having to be at the hospital but instead we bought our new home," she said.

"I am getting married in two years, and I’m expecting my second child in eight weeks. I never thought that would be the case back in 2019.”

Matthew Price, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “We’re really grateful to Emma for taking part in the Walk of Hope, as it’s only with the support of people like her that we’re able to progress our research into brain tumours and improve the outcome for patients like her who are forced to fight this awful disease.”

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“This is a beautiful walk, and I would encourage anyone who is able to take part to do so. Not only is it a great social event in the outdoors but fundraising for it is a great way to support the work we do."

On 24 September, hundreds of people will gather across the nation to take part in the Walk of Hope. You can donate to the cause here.