Bridie and Harry Brave The Shave!

Bridie and Harry brave the shave

On the 17th September, I became unwell and took a trip to A&E after 5 months of general headaches worsened. All my bloods were unremarkable but a CT scan showed a 3.5-4cm mass at the back of my brain. This was causing the symptoms of headaches, dizziness and vomiting due to the pressure inside my brain and on my ventricles. My partner Harry was by my side and without him I wouldn’t have took the trip to hospital. I had a 4 day wait for an MRI that seemed like forever, confirming that it was Cancer. The diagnosis itself felt like the world was closing in on me. I had known there was something wrong, but nothing can ever prepare you for hearing them words and the immediate thought of dying was truly terrifying. At 22 years old I felt like my life was slowly being taken away from me. On the 22nd of September I was transferred to LGI and had an 11 hour operation to remove the tumour on my brain. The operation was successful leaving only approximately 2mm of tumour and the tumour bed behind.

The diagnosis feels like my whole life is on hold. I have stopped working, and have deferred my final year of nursing studies. After the operation I had physiotherapy and occupational therapy input to help me walk again, in hope I would soon be running out of them hospital doors! On the 4th October, rather than run, I was wheeled out of them doors and was able to finally go home and continue the road to recovery. Since then, I have recovered well, am able to do most things on my own, and my scar has healed brilliantly.

A lumbar puncture showed that there is no evidence of cancer in my cerebrospinal fluid or spine meaning i’m eligible for proton beam radiotherapy. This will be repeated on the 24th October to confirm this.

I am due to start a 6 week course of radiotherapy and make the move to manchester on the 1st of November. My treatment will be at The Christie hospital in manchester. The team there are amazing and so supportive. This will be followed by a small break and approximately 8 months of chemotherapy. The chemotherapy will be intense and consist of a 2 day hospital stay every month. The treatment is curative and we are all hoping that i’ll be one of the lucky ones and able to continue my life as it was before with a few changes here and there.

The first 13 radiotherapy treatments will target my whole brain and spine and the remaining 17 treatments will target the area of the tumour.

By around 3 weeks into treatment I will lose all of my hair. This seems such a small thing in comparison to the bigger picture but in reality it’s an awful thought.

So rather than having no control over this and having it all be on cancer’s terms, instead I have decided to shave my head on Friday 28th October to fundraise for Macmillan Cancer Support. This is a charity close to my heart. The work and support these people do and offer is simply amazing and is a light throughout this dark journey.

My partner Harry will be braving the shave with me in support of both me, and the charity I have chosen. He has been at my side throughout and again, is a light throughout the darkest journey.

I want to thank you all in advance for taking the time to read this and for any donations made no matter how small, it is for a wonderful cause. I would also like to thank my family and friends for their continued support throughout all of this.

Please feel free to ask us any questions regarding the fundraiser or charity.

A little bit about me:

22 years old

From Bradford, England

Final year Nursing student

A health care assistant and support worker

A Liverpool fan!

Living at home with my wonderful parents, partner, and 2 beagles!