Sarah Bradley, 39, a materials analyst from Somerset, was left in complete shock when an MRI in March 2024 revealed a large mass on her brain, despite earlier tests showing no concerns.
Within weeks, she was diagnosed with a brain tumour in the right lateral ventricle measuring more than 4cm, forcing her to make life-altering decisions about treatment. After initially choosing to monitor the tumour, Sarah later underwent surgery in November 2024 to remove it. Although the operation was successful and the tumour was eventually confirmed as a rare, low grade sub-ependymoma, her journey did not end there, as she faced a prolonged and deeply challenging emotional recovery alongside the physical effects of major brain surgery.
Sarah tells her story…
Before I was diagnosed, I was a shift worker as a security guard for 10 yrs which I enjoyed.
I was at the gym most days and loved to travel, often going on short trips. I loved socialising, going out and taking my dog for long walks on the beach almost daily.
But that all changed after a car accident. In August 2018, I was involved in a minor collision with another vehicle which left me with whiplash injuries. Over the following five years, the pain in my neck gradually worsened and I began suffering with headaches, frequent dizzy spells, fatigue and a general feeling of being unwell.
Despite trying private treatment, including massage therapy and chiropractic care, my symptoms weren’t improving, so I eventually decided to see my doctor. I was referred to orthopaedics and sent for an MRI scan at Southmead hospital in February 2024 to check for damage to my neck. I also underwent blood tests because of the ongoing fatigue and how unwell I had been feeling.
On 13th March 2024, I attended a follow-up appointment expecting routine results linked to my injuries. I was told my blood tests were clear, but my MRI scan had revealed a large mass on my brain. It was a complete shock, not just for me, but for my doctor too.
I was urgently referred to neurology and underwent another MRI scan with contrast at Southmead Hospital in Bristol just two days later to get a clearer image of the mass. Then, on 3rd April, I attended an appointment where I was told the mass was a tumour located in the right lateral ventricle of my brain, measuring more than 4cm in diameter.
My first thought was: I’m going to die.
I was told the tumour was operable and given two options, surgery within two months or ongoing MRI surveillance. At the time, I wasn’t ready for brain surgery, so I chose surveillance.
After two further scans over the following months, I made the decision to go ahead with surgery. That happened on 25th November 2024.
From diagnosis to surgery, it didn’t really feel real. Even on the operating table, I didn’t feel scared, despite knowing there was a risk I might not wake up.
After surgery, I was told it had been successful and that most of the tumour had been removed, but we still didn’t know what type it was. Waiting for the biopsy results was incredibly difficult, especially when I was told the initial testing had failed and more analysis was needed.
Eventually, I was told it was a sub-ependymoma, a rare grade one tumour. I was told it was one of the best types of tumour to have, and the final words from my team were: ‘go live your life’.
But that’s when everything hit me.
All the fear and anxiety I’d pushed down suddenly came to the surface. I started having panic attacks daily, sometimes hourly. I felt like I couldn’t breathe, I was constantly shaking, and I cried every day.
Physically, I was recovering well, but mentally it was a completely different story. That’s something no one really prepares you for.
My mum stayed with me after surgery, but when she went home, I felt terrified to be on my own. I became so anxious about my health that I moved back in with my parents for about three months. I just couldn’t cope alone.
I eventually had counselling, which helped me to process everything.
In November 2025, I had my follow-up MRI scan, and in January 2026 I was told there was no trace of the tumour, I was effectively cured. Even then, I cried, but this time they were tears of relief.
I still have one more scan to go, and if that’s clear, I’ll be discharged.
I do have some lasting effects. I’ve lost peripheral vision in my left eye, I’m sensitive to light and noise, and I still get tired easily. I occasionally have panic attacks, but they don’t control me anymore.
It’s been a long and difficult journey, but I’m incredibly grateful to be alive. The support from my family, friends, and the medical teams who cared for me has been amazing. The NHS really is something special.
My friend Megan is running the London Marathon in my honour this year, raising money and awareness for brain tumours. There are more than 100 types of brain tumour, making them one of the most complex cancers to treat and Brain Tumour Research is the only national charity in the UK focused on funding sustainable, long-term research at dedicated Centres of Excellence. But they desperately need more funding to ensure that research continues.
Sarah Bradley
April 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 Sarah’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.
