My brain tumour mum’s memory is regressing; it’s like we’re living back in 2012

A 25-year-old woman says her mum’s brain tumour has affected her memory so much that “it’s as if we’re living back in 2012”. Gillian Wilson, 54, was told she had a craniopharyngioma brain tumour in May 2010. After the shock diagnosis, she had 17 operations and radiotherapy.

Her daughter, Alisha Wilson, 25, from Bridgeton, Glasgow, is now putting her best foot forward by taking part in 10,000 Steps a Day in February for the charity Brain Tumour Research to find a cure for the disease. Alisha, who is studying childhood development at Glasgow Kelvin College, said: “The brain tumour and subsequent treatments have left Mum with lots of serious health matters, including two types of diabetes because her pituitary gland was removed.

"Her memory is regressing; she remembers when my sister, Abbie, and I were little kids, as if we were living back in 2012. She still refers to Abbie, who is now 15, as the bairn. I’m raising money for Brain Tumour Research because this is a cause that’s really close to my heart.

"Who knows where my mum would be if it wasn’t for all of the research that has already been done? If we can get funding for more research, then maybe others don’t need to go through what Mum has.”

Gillian had been suffering from strong headaches and dizziness, and she was forgetful at times. Her GP said she had migraines and stress, but in May 2010 Gillian complained of an unbearable pain in her head and was sent for an eye test.

The optician spotted something behind Gillian’s eye and sent her to Southern General Hospital in Glasgow. An MRI scan revealed a mass behind her pituitary gland.

Alisha said: “I was 11 at the time and didn’t have a clue what was going on. Mum was in hospital for weeks, and I wasn’t allowed in to see her. It was heart-breaking because I’m very close to Mum. I asked the nurses ‘Is Mum going to die?’ but they reassured me that they were doing their best.”

Surgeons removed most of the tumour on June 6 2010. In the following months, Gillian was doing well but in September she became forgetful. The tumour had grown back and had filled up with fluid, so surgeons needed to operate to insert a shunt.

Alisha said: “The shunt managed to drain the fluid, but a few days later it had filled up again, so they operated on her again to fit a second shunt. Since the first operation she had several setbacks leading to another 10 operations between then and September 2010.”

Gillian underwent six weeks of radiotherapy which resulted in her losing her hair. In 2012, the double shunt had stopped working which led to Gillian having another six operations to resolve the issue. Gillian continues to live at home with her partner, Paddy, 54, who is her full-time carer.

Alisha has raised more than £2,500 for Brain Tumour Research through a number of fundraising events. She will also take part in the Glasgow Kiltwalk on Sunday, April 28.

Katrina Jones, head of community fundraising at Brain Tumour Research, said: “We’re really grateful to Alisha for taking on the 10,000 Steps a Day in February challenge 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 like Gillian who are forced to fight this awful disease.”

Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK. It also campaigns for the Government and larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, to find a cure. The charity is the driving force behind the call for a national annual spend of £35 million in order to improve survival rates and patient outcomes in line with other cancers such as breast cancer and leukaemia.

To support Alisha’s fundraising, visit: https://bit.ly/3upCDYX

Location: Bridgeton, Glasgow