Woman diagnosed with brain tumor aged 20 had to relearn how to use a fork

Charlotte Render, 22, from Scunthorpe, thought she was suffering from dizziness but was later diagnosed with a slow-growing brain tumor that required immediate surgery

A woman who was diagnosed with a brain tumor at the age of 20 tells how she had to relearn basic skills.

Charlotte Render, now 22, has been living with a slow-growing brain tumor called pilocytic astrocytoma since August 2020.

The Scunthorpe woman required immediate surgery to remove a tumor that was making her dizzy and unable to walk.

she said Grimsby Live : “When I received my diagnosis, I didn’t notice it. I don’t think I understood the gravity of what happened.

“I had surgery pretty quickly on August 17, 2020 at Hull Royal Infirmary. I think it wasn’t until after the surgery that I realized how serious it was.

“Had I experienced that, I probably would have had trouble undergoing the surgery.

“Everyone around me in the hospital was in their 50s and 60s or up. I just thought why am I so young here?

“But it can happen to anyone.”

Prior to the diagnosis, Charlotte suffered from severe headaches for a long time and initially thought she was struggling with dizziness, unaware that it was a tumor growing in her brain.

She had to sign a document saying she would like to proceed with the surgery if things “didn’t go according to plan”.

Charlotte admitted the diagnosis came as a shock not only to her but to her family as well, adding, “I could see how upset my mum was. My father even cried.

“They fought a lot. But I just didn’t feel anything and I didn’t feel any emotions for a few months.

“I got a lot of messages from friends saying how brave I was. However, I didn’t feel brave.

“I was told that it might be possible that I couldn’t use facial muscles, I might not be able to speak or use my legs. That was really scary.

“But after the surgery I realized I could still walk, move and use my facial expressions.

“I lost use of my right hand during surgery and my left thigh was affected. I had to relearn basic things like how to use a fork.

“It was really difficult, but I consider myself very lucky to be here today. I had a supportive family around me to keep going.

“I suffered for a long time from what I thought was veritgo, when you get really nauseous and dizzy at 16. The dizzy spells came and went, but they got worse.”

Charlotte talks about her experience of having a brain tumor at a young age as March is Brain Tumor Awareness Month.