When Laura first heard the words “You have a brain tumour,” her world stopped.
A mother of two and Head of PALS and Complaints at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Laura was used to helping patients navigate their own healthcare journeys. But in 2024, she found herself on the other side, when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
At the time, Laura and her family were in the middle of relocating from Jersey to England. Between changing jobs, supporting her children through new schools, and managing a house move, she began experiencing headaches and dizziness – symptoms she attributed to stress and fatigue.
Diagnosis
A sudden episode led Laura to the emergency department, where an initial CT scan followed by an MRI revealed a 2.8 x 2.3 cm meningioma, about half the size of a golf ball. “In a million years, I never thought it would be me,” she recalls. “I’m fit, active, and healthy. When the doctor called and told me to come straight to the hospital, and to bring my husband, I knew it wasn’t good news.”
Laura’s scans were first reviewed in Southampton and later by a London team, where her care was transferred to Mr Neil Kitchen’s team at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. For the first year, her tumour was monitored with six-monthly scans, but growth was detected at the next review, prompting the need to consider treatment options.
Finding the Right Treatment
Because the tumour was located close to delicate vascular structures, open surgery carried significant risks. After multidisciplinary discussion, Gamma Knife radiosurgery was recommended – a highly precise, non-invasive treatment that uses focused beams of radiation to target the tumour without the need for an incision.
“For me, it was the best of both worlds,” Laura says. “It was safe, accurate, and didn’t require surgery. I could go home the same day and return to my life almost immediately.”
Same Day Treatment
Laura’s treatment took place at the Queen Square Radiosurgery Centre, located within National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery.
On the day of her procedure, she arrived early in London, feeling anxious but supported. “The team were very professional, very well organised, informed me very clearly, gave me my own private space to sit in my husband and I sat in the room” Laura explained.
A lightweight frame was fitted to her head to ensure the treatment’s precision. Following imaging and treatment planning, the Gamma Knife session itself lasted about an hour. Listening to her favourite podcast helped the time pass calmly, and she found the experience less claustrophobic than an MRI.
Within hours of the treatment, Laura was able to go home. “It felt surreal, I’d had treatment on my brain and yet I was walking through London with my husband a few hours later, ready to go home.”
Recover and Return to Normal
The following days brought mild headaches, tiredness, and temporary brain fog, but these symptoms eased steadily. After two weeks, Laura had returned to light activity and was fully back at work within three weeks.
She appreciated the close support from the Amethyst team: “The nurse called before and after the treatment, checked how I was feeling, and answered all my questions. That personal connection meant a lot, I never felt alone in the process.”
Just a few weeks after treatment, Laura’s life looked much like it did before her diagnosis. “I’m doing everything I love — working, riding with my daughter, playing football with my son. Gamma Knife radiosurgery gave me back my life, in a single day.”
Now, Laura hopes to use her story to reassure other patients facing similar decisions: “If you’re eligible for Gamma Knife radiosurgery, I would absolutely recommend it. It’s precise, it’s efficient, and it lets you get back to being yourself almost immediately.”
Considering Treatment options for a brain tumour?
Gamma Knife radiosurgery offers a precise, non-invasive treatment option for eligible patients, often allowing them to return home the same day and resume normal activities quickly.
To learn more about Gamma Knife treatment and whether it may be suitable for you or a loved one, contact our team today to speak with a specialist.