A 31-year-old mum mistook the symptoms of a brain tumour for ‘pregnancy niggles’. Laura Mahon was completely unaware that her life was about to be turned upside down when she realised she couldn’t curl her toes.
Midway through her first pregnancy and naturally worried, she insisted on an MRI scan from her doctors. The results were devastating. Laura recalls: “They told me I had a brain tumour – a glioma – and that I probably only had a year to live.
“I was heartbroken and terrified for myself, my husband, Danny, and our unborn daughter, Sienna. We went home and just cried.” The couple, from St Helens, Merseyside, were faced with an unimaginable choice.
They could either proceed with the pregnancy or commence aggressive treatment that might put their baby’s life at risk. “We wanted to give Sienna the best possible chance,” Laura shares. “The neonatal team advised us that aiming for 32 weeks was ideal, as babies generally fare better at that stage.
“I couldn’t have contrast dye during my MRI so the doctors couldn’t see the tumour clearly. But they suspected it was aggressive and required immediate surgery.
“It was a difficult decision – my life versus my baby’s. In the end, we chose to wait as long as we could for Sienna’s sake.” By 27 weeks into her pregnancy, Laura’s health had significantly deteriorated.
“The cancer was spreading,” she recounts. “I lost feeling in my right arm and started to lose the mobility of my leg and struggled to walk. It was just awful. I knew the tumour was growing in my head, and I couldn’t do anything about it until my baby was safely delivered.
“I tried to keep myself distracted and remain positive every day, but I could feel myself getting worse and feared for my life. We didn’t really handle it very well – every day was torture. Danny just tried to keep me positive and reassured me everything would be ok.”
At 30 weeks, doctors decided to perform an emergency C-section under general anaesthetic. Sienna arrived 10 weeks premature but was a healthy little fighter. With her daughter now out of harm’s way, Laura could start her own fight for survival.
“I was told brain cancer is really hard to treat, especially when the tumour is inoperable,” she explains. “I went through chemo and radiotherapy, but nothing worked. For a long time, I knew the day would come when they’d say there was nothing more they could do for me.”
Laura received her diagnosis in September 2021 and has since been battling to maintain her health. However, in June 2024, her condition took a severe turn. In just three days, she experienced over 50 seizures.
Despite doctors’ efforts, they couldn’t halt the episodes, and she was taken to The Walton Centre, a leading neurology hospital. Two months on, she and her partner Danny were confronted with their worst fears; the NHS had exhausted all treatment avenues.
“My tumour had grown significantly, and my liver function had deteriorated to the point where chemotherapy was no longer viable. But still, I refuse to give up.”
The family is now investigating private treatments that could prolong Laura’s life, allowing her more precious moments with her family. Promising trials in London have emerged as a beacon of hope, yet they come with a hefty price tag.
To help cover these costs, the family has turned to GoFundMe for support. In the three years since her diagnosis, Laura has become a vocal advocate for brain cancer awareness.
Through her social media presence on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, she openly shares her journey. She says there is an urgent need to invest in brain cancer research to offer patients like her a real chance at life.
Laura said: “Brain cancer kills more children and adults under 40 than any other cancer, yet it receives only 1% of the national spend on cancer research. This disparity has fuelled my determination to raise awareness and funds for brain cancer research.”
Laura, who suffers from chronic seizures due to a brain tumour, faces increasing challenges as her condition worsens. She manages her seizures with medication, yet they’re becoming more frequent because of the tumour’s growth.
“Sometimes I get a slight warning that one is about to come on, but other times it just happens,” she shares. The seizures have had a profound impact on her life, including revoking her driving privileges—she must be free of seizures and the tumour for two years before she can even think about getting behind the wheel again.
Her partner Danny has heartbreakingly promised her a Mercedes if she achieves this, his voice tinged with sadness. In Laura’s own words, “My tumour is growing and spreading,” as she confronts a grim reality: “Things are getting worse. I’m not sure how much longer I have.”