Woman reveals first warning sign of tumours that made her brain look like a ‘fruit bowl’

Kaylee Crawshaw, 33, compared the tumours to a lime and a gooseberry

Laura Hampson
Friday 04 November 2022 04:06 EDT
Comments
Kaylee Crawshaw recently had a brain tumour removed
Kaylee Crawshaw recently had a brain tumour removed (SWNS)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A woman has revealed the first warning sign she had before doctors discovered two tumours in her brain.

Kaylee Crawshaw, 33, said she was suffering from excruciating headaches, which doctors initially thought could be a product of a trapped nerve.

However, a subsequent CT scan showed two potentially cancerous tumours on her brain, something Crawshaw said made her brain “look like a fruit bowl”.

The tumours measured 5cm and 1cm respectively, and Crawshaw described them as looking like a lime and a gooseberry.

The mother of two from Weymouth, Dorset, had the larger tumour removed last week, and is now waiting to hear if she will need any further treatment following a biopsy.

“It was like I had a fruit bowl in my head,” Crawshaw explained. “The larger one measured 5cm, about the size of a lime. That was what surgeons removed. I nicknamed it Mike.

“The second one measured about 1cm, which is about the size of a gooseberry. I nicknamed that one Tilly the tiny.”

Crawshaw added that she’s had no side effects post-surgery “aside from half of my head being shaved”.

“I decided to shave it before surgery as my hair is my pride and joy. I donated it to The Little Princess Trust,” Crawshaw explained.

Kaylee said doctors initially thought headaches were the result of a trapped nerve
Kaylee said doctors initially thought headaches were the result of a trapped nerve (SWNS)

“I now get tired easily, but I have my eyesight which is something doctors warned could be impacted.

“Whatever the results of my tumour are, we will face them together as a family.”

Mel Tiley, of Brain Tumour Research said: “We wish Kaylee all the best during her recovery from surgery.

“Her story reminds us that brain tumours are indiscriminate and can affect anyone at any time.”

Brain Tumour Research is calling on the Government and larger cancer charities to invest more on research into brain tumours to speed up new treatment.

The charity says one in three people know someone affected by a brain tumour and that they kill more under the age of 40 than any other cancer.

Yet, historically, just one per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours, it added.

Additional reporting by SWNS

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in