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EXPLORE FURTHER: Celebrity makeup artist battling fatal brain cancer following one key symptom
A highly fit woman who is also a single mother shared her distress after physicians attributed her dizziness to a typical inner-ear issue, when in reality it was due to a brain tumor.
Cate Jackson, a 60-year-old former professional swimmer, first consulted doctors about her issues with headaches, dizziness, and exhaustion, receiving a diagnosis of labyrinthitis.
This condition, which influences the inner ear and interferes with both hearing and equilibrium, usually improves on its own within a few days or weeks without requiring medical intervention.
Mrs. Jackson, a previous competitor for the Commonwealth Games representing Great Britain between 1981 and 1985, was first prescribed antibiotics.
However, Ms. Jackson, who now competes for Barnet Copthall Masters, did not react positively to the treatment, and her condition deteriorated further.
In March 2023, the actual reason for her symptoms became clear when scans showed a meningioma, which is a tumor developing in the membranes surrounding the brain.
Her daughter, Isobel, who is 26 years old and works as a mental health support worker in Welwyn, Hertfordshire, mentioned: “My mum felt constantly exhausted and described it as though she required someone to bore into the side of her head just to relieve the pressure.”
I explored the brain as part of my psychology coursework at university and suspected that an underlying cause might be responsible.
Even though mom didn’t want to cause a commotion, I urged her to revisit the doctor, and my concerns turned out to be justified.
Following her MRI scan, Mrs. Jackson received her diagnosis.
Before starting her radiotherapy, she underwent surgery to extract the lump and has been kept under observation through periodic imaging tests ever since.
What exactly is a meningioma and what treatments are available for it?
A meningioma is a kind of tumor that originates from the layers of tissue (meninges) covering the brain and spinal cord.
The symptoms might not be clear because meningiomas typically develop gradually; however, as they enlarge, they can put pressure on nearby regions of the brain.
These issues might lead to symptoms like migraines, difficulties with equilibrium, impairment in an arm or leg, and alterations in vision.
It may lead to alterations in speech or swallowing, shifts in personality, confusion, seizures (convulsions), and nausea (vomiting).
When a meningioma is expanding or inducing symptoms, the primary treatment choices include surgical intervention and radiation therapy.
Isobel stated: “My mom faces some difficulties with her cognitive processing but continues to live life as usual.”
‘My mother’s brain tumor might be treatable, but I realize that for certain individuals, this isn’t always possible.’
‘I wish to back Brain Tumor Research so that additional potentially lifesaving studies can be conducted, keeping families united.’
On May 17, 2025, Isobel finished a run along the Jurassic Coast, raising more than £1,000 for charity.
charity
, which is committed to discovering a cure for all forms of brain tumors.
She stated, “It was amazing but quite distinct from running outdoors.”
I had intended to complete the 100km distance, but I was forced to pull out beforehand because I lost body heat and couldn’t get warmed up, making it too risky to proceed.
‘I am incredibly pleased with my achievement in running such a long distance, particularly considering all the challenging uphill sections and descents.’
Charlie Allsebrook, the community development manager at Brain Tumor Research, stated: “We are immensely thankful to Isobel for sharing her mother’s story and for undertaking such an arduous hiking challenge.”
‘Cate’s story is a stark reminder that brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone at any age and around 12,000 people are diagnosed with a primary brain tumour each year.
‘We appreciate Isobel’s efforts in shedding light on this debilitating disease and her support for the brain tumor community.’
Approximately one-fourth of the nearly 13,000 brain tumors diagnosed annually in the UK are meningiomas, as per data from Cancer Research UK.
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