A mum who is living with the same brain tumour that EastEnders' character Lola Pearce has just been diagnosed with has praised the soap for its depiction of the disease. Kylie Weatherby, 34, was pregnant for the first time when she was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour in July 2021.
Her diagnosis came after she was violently sick and collapsed in her bathroom with a seizure when she was 36 weeks pregnant with her twins in May 2021. Just like EastEnders' character Lola Pearce, 26, who collapsed in a bathroom with a seizure in Tuesday's [25] episode, Kylie was found by her partner.
Kylie gave birth at 37 weeks pregnant to twins Luca and Malena via C section before being diagnosed with a grade four glioblastoma. This is the same aggressive and fast-growing form of brain cancer that Lola has been diagnosed with and Kylie has praised the soap for its depiction of the disease.
Kylie, who is a big EastEnders fan and can remember watching episodes from as young as six, said: "When the doctor told Lola and Jay they’d found a brain tumour and that it could be cancerous, I was biting my lip. Then they started crying and I just let it out. When you’ve been through it yourself, watching someone else go through it is really emotional.
"My mum found me crying and said "you can’t watch this any more", but I think it’s better to release my emotions.”
"I actually messaged Danielle Harold, the actress who plays Lola, on Instagram after to say thank you for playing this part and for helping to raise awareness. I think she’s doing amazing."
10 days after giving birth to twins Luca and Malena, Kylie was rushed into surgery after her brain had become so swollen that it was squashing her tumour and causing it to bleed. Severe swelling meant that it was not immediately possible to rebuild her skull, so Kylie was sent home wearing a helmet to protect her exposed brain until the operation could be completed in July 2021.
It was the day before that final surgery that Kylie found out she had a grade four glioblastoma - the same form of brain cancer that EastEnders' character Lola has been diagnosed with this week. The character of Lola, who is played by actress Danielle Harold, 30, and is also a young mum, was diagnosed this week after collapsing in the bathroom with a seizure, just like Kylie.
Kylie has since undergone chemotherapy and radiotherapy and was told that her cancer cells were no longer detectable and she showed no evidence of disease in October 2021. She is now being monitored with three-monthly scans, the next of which is due to take place this Friday [28], and feels "extremely grateful" to the BBC for raising awareness of this devastating disease.
Kylie, and is working with the charity Brain Tumour Research to share her story, said: "Although I know the prognosis for a GBM isn’t good, on average just 12-18 months, I feel lucky to be where I am and showing no signs of regrowth.
"I still have my moments but I feel much calmer in myself, and much stronger."
Dr Karen Noble, Director of Research, Policy and Innovation at Brain Tumour Research, said: "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.
"We're really grateful to the BBC for raising vital awareness through Lola’s storyline and to Kylie for continuing to support us by sharing her story."
