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New Mother’s Brain Tumor Diagnosis: Dismissed Vision Flashes as Pregnancy Symptoms
Experiencing the joys of new motherhood, Susan Ash initially disregarded unusual flashes of light intruding her sight. The then 24-year-old attributed these occurrences to hormonal fluctuations from pregnancy and her history of migraines. However, three months postpartum, a seizure at a soccer game led to a hospital visit and a life-altering brain tumor diagnosis.
Devastating Discovery: Slow-Growing Tumor Linked to Pregnancy
Doctors informed Ms. Ash that the tumor was likely slow-growing, potentially present since birth. They suggested that pregnancy-related hormone shifts might have accelerated its growth, resulting in complications like seizures.
From New Hampshire, Ms. Ash recounted her initial reaction: ‘I was overcome with fear. Holding my infant daughter, just three and a half months old, I wept uncontrollably, desperate that she wouldn’t have to grow up without me.’
Susan Ash, now 25, with her daughter Julia, born in July 2024. A brain tumor diagnosis followed shortly after Julia’s birth.
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A scan illustrating Ms. Ash’s brain tumor, highlighted by yellow lines.
Ignoring Early Warning Signs: Stress Misattributed to Symptoms
She reflected, ‘Looking back, as a new parent, I failed to connect the dots and honestly wasn’t concerned – I assumed it was stress. But upon returning to work seven weeks after delivery, the headaches and blurred vision became more frequent and persistent.’
Tumor Location and Visual Disturbances
Medical professionals located the tumor on her left occipital lobe, the region of the brain at the rear of the head responsible for processing visual input from the right eye. While non-cancerous, its position clarified the unusual visual flashes Ms. Ash had been experiencing.
Hormonal Influence on Brain Tumor Growth During Pregnancy
Experts explain that elevated hormone levels during pregnancy, particularly estrogen and progesterone, can stimulate the expansion of brain tumors. These hormones can attach to receptors on the tumor, possibly speeding up its progression, especially if it had been silently developing for years.
From Subtle Symptoms to Seizure and Diagnosis
After Julia’s birth in July 2024, Ms. Ash noticed changes in her vision and ongoing migraines. Initially concerned but not alarmed, she consulted her physician, who recommended a neurologist. However, when her symptoms seemed to lessen with magnesium supplements, she cancelled the specialist appointment.
In October, while playing soccer, Ms. Ash suddenly collapsed, suffering a grand mal seizure – a severe seizure affecting the entire brain, causing muscle rigidity and unconsciousness.
At the hospital, imaging scans revealed a marble-sized tumor exerting pressure on her brain. This pressure was causing irritation within the skull, leading to swelling, compression, and severe headaches.
Long-Term Migraines and Early Tumor Indicators
Ms. Ash later mentioned a history of migraines and even recalled visual disturbances, such as flashing lights, dating back to age ten. Doctors now suggest these may have been early indicators of the tumor’s gradual growth over the years.
Ms. Ash received her diagnosis after a seizure at a family soccer game. Hospital scans confirmed the tumor.
Ms. Ash with her partner and daughter Julia.
Describing Recurring Visual Symptoms
Recounting the return of her symptoms, she described: ‘On my right side, I would see intense flashing lights, often moving in circles, for a couple of minutes. Once that subsided, my peripheral vision would become blurred.’
Choosing Surgery: Weighing Vision Loss Against Future Health
Doctors presented Ms. Ash with two options: monitor the tumor or undergo surgical removal with the risk of losing vision in her right eye. She opted for surgery, deeming the potential vision loss a worthwhile risk to prevent future complications. The operation is scheduled in the coming months.
Life After Diagnosis: Impact on Daily Life and Raising Awareness
‘Although vision loss in my right eye is a possibility, it’s a small sacrifice for being alive,’ she stated. Eight months after childbirth, the diagnosis and resulting vision problems have made driving impossible for the young mother.
Furthermore, the seizures have prevented her from working, adding financial strain to the challenges of motherhood. Ms. Ash, now 25, is committed to connecting with others facing similar health challenges online and raising awareness about her early symptoms leading to the diagnosis.
Prevalence of Brain Tumors and Symptom Overlap
Approximately 90,000 Americans are diagnosed with a brain tumor annually, with most cases occurring in those aged 40 and older.
Ms. Ash with her family. She has chosen surgical removal of the tumor.
Recognizing Brain Tumor Warning Signs
Medical professionals indicate that many brain tumor cases may go undiagnosed for years because symptoms such as migraines and nausea can be mistaken for other conditions.
Common Warning Signs Include:
- Persistent headaches
- Nausea or vomiting
- Vision problems, such as blurred or double vision
Finding Community and Support
Ms. Ash concluded, ‘While a brain tumor diagnosis three months postpartum is unique, I connect with many people by sharing my feelings. Fear, anxiety, sadness, anger, grief, gratitude, positivity, happiness in small moments, pride – all of these are universal human emotions.’ She adds, ‘Whether people are drawn to my videos for the motherhood, medical, or mental health aspects, my primary aim is to ensure no one feels isolated.’