Magda Robertson, 48, from West Devon, works as a strategic planning officer at the University of Exeter and is a devoted mum of two. She was diagnosed with a meningioma in 2020 after experiencing years of subtle and unexplained symptoms.
Now living with the long-term effects of her diagnosis and treatment, Magda is passionate about raising awareness, supporting research, and helping others navigate the challenges of a brain tumour diagnosis.
Magda tells her story…
Looking back, I realise I had symptoms for a long time over several years, but they were so subtle that nothing was picked up. I had issues with my vision and went to the opticians, but because the changes were slight, nothing was flagged. My optic nerve is now damaged, although thankfully, the impact on my vision is limited.
I also suffered from migraines, and when the tumour first started growing, it felt like I’d been hit in the head.
At the time, I was sent to the dentist to check my teeth and also had my ears looked at, but no one considered it might be something in my brain and I didn’t think of it either.
During that time, I had two children Frida and Einar. After the birth of our youngest Einar in 2016, I experienced intense post-partum headaches. I went to the doctor, but because I was breastfeeding, I couldn’t take strong painkillers. The tumour was slowly affecting me in different ways, but we didn’t know it at the time.
Then I developed tinnitus on my left side. I was referred to ENT, who arranged a CT scan and then an MRI and that’s when they found the tumour in 2020.
I received a phone call from a neurosurgeon with the diagnosis. It was surreal and shocking.
Because of COVID, he couldn’t see me in person. He explained that it was a meningioma in the cavernous sinus and asked about my symptoms. When I described the intense head pain I’d had years earlier, he confirmed it was linked to the tumour.
It was a very short conversation. I was so stunned that I didn’t ask many questions. It didn’t even occur to me what I should ask. Afterwards, all the questions started coming, but my next appointment wasn’t for six months. That wait was incredibly difficult.
In the end, my dad paid for a private consultation in Bristol so I could get answers. It was a privilege to be able to do that, but it shouldn’t be necessary for patients to pay just to have their questions answered.
I later transferred my NHS care to Southmead Hospital in Bristol, where I had surgery on 31 March 2021. It was still during lockdown, so my family couldn’t come with me. Saying goodbye to my children Frida, who was seven, and Einar, who was four was the hardest thing. I didn’t know if I would come back the same person.
The biggest fear wasn’t the physical risks like losing sight or mobility, it was whether I would still be me. That was the most frightening part.
My husband Neil had to drop me at the hospital door and say goodbye there. It was terrifying not knowing if I’d see my family again.
The surgery lasted 11 hours. The tumour was four to five centimetres, almost the size of a golf ball. They couldn’t remove all of it, and I’ve been told I may need further treatment in the future, possibly radiotherapy if it starts to affect my vision more.
When I woke up, the relief was incredible. Realising I was still myself, with no memory loss, was amazing. I remember being asked repeatedly who the Prime Minister was to check my awareness!
I was able to go home after a week. I live in a rural village, the support from neighbours was incredible people brought food and gifts, which meant so much.
I now have annual MRI scans to monitor the tumour. I’ve developed a heightened sense of smell, which doctors say can be a seizure symptom, so I’m on medication as a precaution.
One thing I’ve noticed is the difference in how quickly other cancers are treated. A colleague of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer and received rapid access to care. Brain tumour patients deserve the same level of urgency and support.
A brain tumour diagnosis is terrifying, but it’s not a death sentence. There are many different types, and research is ongoing. You are not alone there is a whole community of people who understand what you’re going through.
I also chose to donate my tumour to Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence at the Plymouth University biobank to support research. It’s something others can consider too, as it could help find a cure in the future.
Magda Robertson
March 2026
One in three people in the UK knows someone affected by a brain tumour. This disease is indiscriminate; it can affect anyone at any age. What’s more, brain tumours continue to kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer yet, to date, just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease since records began in 2002.
Brain Tumour Research is determined to change this.
If you have been inspired by Magda’s story, you may like to make a donation via www.braintumourresearch.org/donate or leave a gift in your will via www.braintumourresearch.org/legacy
Together we will find a cure.
