Woman claims doctors dismissed brain cancer as stress headaches

By Nathan Pynn

A mom-of-three says bungling doctors dismissed her agonizing headaches as “stress caused by her kids,” which turned out to be brain cancer.

Libby Woolaston’s health deteriorated so much that she even went blind in one eye while waiting for a hospital appointment.

The 32-year-old began suffering persistent headaches in the summer of 2024 and went to her GP practice for help.

She says three separate doctors dismissed her concerns, saying her symptoms were probably stress or hormone-related.

One GP even suggested her three children - Miller, 10, Dax, seven and four-year-old Forest - may have been to blame for causing her headaches.

She was finally diagnosed with an atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) - a type of cancer usually found in young children under three.

But by the time she was diagnosed, her tumor had caused her to go blind in one eye.

Libby, who lives with partner Aiden in Wolverhampton, West Mids., said: "I felt completely ignored for months, no-one was listening to me.

“I knew something wasn't right, but I kept being told it was hormones, stress or depression.

“One doctor even asked me if I had children and said: 'Do you not think it's just your children giving you a headache?'

"The pain became unbearable and I was taking painkiller after painkiller just to try and function day‑to‑day.

“I couldn't be the mom I wanted to be, and my quality of life was awful."

After her diagnosis, Libby underwent a four-hour surgery to have the pituitary tumor removed through her nose at Birmingham Hospital.

She then underwent a lumbar puncture, radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment.

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Libby was told she was cancer-free in February this year.

She said: "Now I see life very differently. I appreciate every single day I get to spend with my family.

“I don't want anyone else to go through what I did, so I would urge people not to ignore their symptoms.

“Trust your instincts and don't be afraid to push for answers – you deserve to be taken seriously."

Libby was initially seen by her local GPs before being referred to New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton.

She said: “I was referred to endocrinology in 2024 to New Cross Hospital but things got worse. The headaches became unbearable.

Even though I asked for surgery, I was told pain medication was the best option because the tumor wasn’t life-threatening and could be managed.

“I was on constant painkillers and found it difficult to function. I couldn’t get out of bed or be a mom – my quality of life was awful.”

The pain became so intense she was referred to a Birmingham Hospital in October 2024.

But it was another four months until she had an appointment for March 2025.

She said: “By then, the pain was horrendous.

“In March 2025, I went blind in my right eye and doctors discovered the tumor had grown and was pressing on my optic nerve.”

Since getting the all clear, Libby now has scans every three months and her eyesight has returned.

Libby is not considering taking legal action but is now planning to walk 200km to raise money for the charity Brain Tumour Research.

Letty Greenfield, community fundraising manager, said: "Libby's story highlights the devastating impact brain tumors can have, as well as the urgent need for greater awareness and investment in research."