A patient who watched the hit TV series Bridgerton during her brain surgery is sharing her story to raise awareness of the disease.
Charlotte Hughes was first diagnosed with two gliomas in December 2015, after experiencing leg cramps and numbness. The tumours were inoperable due to their location on the motor strip in her brain, and Charlotte underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment. A scan in December 2018 revealed a new tumour had grown and in February 2019, Charlotte underwent surgery to remove the grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), before enduring further chemotherapy.
Just months later, Charlotte received the devastating news that further growth had been detected inside the tumour and it was decided she would need surgery to remove it. She underwent an awake craniotomy on 3rd February 2021 during which she watched the popular Netflix period drama Bridgerton as her surgeon Dr Chittoor Rajaraman removed the tumour.
Now, Charlotte is working with Brain Tumour Research to raise awareness of the disease and has shared her story on news websites, including the Metro, YorkshireLive, WalesOnline and Daily Post.
She said: “So little is known about brain tumours and it is unbelievable that just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has historically been allocated to this devastating disease. I found out the hard way that it is all too easy for GPs to dismiss symptoms. It makes me angry and upset and I’m determined to do my bit to highlight the stark statistics and the issues surrounding the disease. I also hope that by sharing my story, I am giving people hope.”
If, like Charlotte, you would like to share your story, please contact our PR team on media@braintumourresearch.org