A woman who suspected she was “losing her mind” when she started hearing music that wasn’t there, has told of how the frightening experience led to a shock diagnosis.
Dawn Clark, 49, first realised something was wrong in December 2011, when she thought she could hear the radio. However, when she went to turn it off, she found it wasn’t switched on.
The mum, from Thornton-Cleveleys in Lancashire, said she would hear the "imaginary" music or noise from the TV every three months.
After thinking it could be due to an ear condition, she was horrified to be diagnosed with a brain tumour.
"I heard music and thought it was the radio. When I went to turn it off, I saw that it had not been on in the first place,” she told Lancs Live.
“I could still hear it, so I asked my daughter if she was playing music, but she wasn’t. I thought I was losing my mind.
“Every three months, I would hear imaginary music or the television. These episodes went on for two years and they really frightened me.”
Dawn's GP thought she might have had Meniere's disease, an inner ear condition which can cause vertigo, so she was referred to the ear, nose and throat (ENT) department at Blackpool Victoria Hospital in December 2013.
But an MRI scan revealed a shadow on her brain.
The mum-of-three had another scan on December 23 that year. A specialist then asked her to come into the hospital the following day, Christmas Eve, where she was told she had a brain tumour.
Dawn said: “They said it was a low-grade glioma which was quite deep. They said they could take most, but not all, of it out.
“There was a 20% chance I’d be paralysed down my left side. It was a lot to take in but I took the risk and they removed it safely.”
In 2017, a surgeon recommended that the rest of the tumour be removed. On April 4, Dawn underwent a second operation.
She said: “ The operation went well but the histology showed the tumour was actually an anaplastic oligodendroglioma, so my tumour had either changed, or the last bit they took was possibly always that type.”
Dawn underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy which made her very tired and sick. She now as a check-up scan every six months. Her most recent, in September 2021, showed there was no change to the tumour.
Dawn said: “ It felt wonderful to hear that. I’m very happy because it means I can now consider doing other things, such as going back to work.
“The tumour will always be in the back of my mind, but I don’t think about it so much and I can get on with my life.”
Dawn, who is a mum to Olivia, 19, Georgia, 21, and Michael, 23, will now walk 10,000 steps every day in February to raise money for Brain Tumour Research.
She added: “It’s so important to me because without research into brain tumours, I might not be here.
“This is a great way to raise money to help find a cure for this devastating disease.”
Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer yet historically just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease.
After a successful first challenge a year ago which raised nearly £1 million to support vital research and campaigning, Brain Tumour Research’s 10,000 Steps a Day in February Challenge is back.
The charity is calling for people to step up to the Facebook challenge and make it even bigger and better in 2022. Participants will receive a free emoji t-shirt and fundraising pack when they receive their first donation and a special medal if they raise £274 or more.
Matthew Price, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research said: “We’re really grateful to Dawn for taking on this challenge for us as it’s only with the support of people like her that we’re able to progress our research into brain tumours and improve the outcome for patients who are forced to fight this awful disease.
“The best part of the 10,000 Steps a Day in February Challenge is that you can fit your steps in with your everyday life. That could be having a coffee and catching up with friends at your local park, walking your commute or school run instead of driving, getting off the bus a few stops earlier or walking around your house whilst on the phone.
"You could even team up with friends or colleagues and complete your steps together!”
To donate to Dawn’s 10,000 Steps a Day fundraiser, click here .
To join the Facebook challenge group, click here .
