Kim Wilson had three years of strange symptoms – even crashing her car – before she found out it was due to a brain tumour
Kim Wilson in hospital after brain surgery to remove as much of an incurable brain tumour as possible(Image: Brain Tumour Research / SWNS)
An undiagnosed brain tumour caused a woman to have what she thought wrongly were “panic attacks” and even to crash her car. And it was only when she underwent surgery at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) that she found out she had an incurable form of cancer.
Cumbrian woman Kim Wilson collapsed during a work call in August 2022 and was rushed to West Cumberland Hospital. She had suffered two tonic-clonic seizures, which cause loss of consciousness. She was then taken to the RVI, where an MRI scan revealed the tumour.
After an eight-hour brain operation, as much of the tumour as possible was removed and it was found that she had a grade 3 astrocytoma – which is an aggressive and incurable form of the disease. This explained three years of strange symptoms which she had previously put down to panic attacks – even though she wasn’t sure what she had been panicking about.
Kim, 37, said: “I became anxious about simple things like leaving the house or running errands. I thought I was just having panic attacks and put it down to Covid stress. My GP agreed it was anxiety and prescribed medication.
“There were other strange moments too. Once, I was found rambling and confused in the car. Another time, I had an episode during a walk in the forest.
Kim Wilson before her brain cancer diagnosis(Image: Brain tumour research / SWNS)
“We were convinced it couldn’t be a panic attack because there was nothing to panic about. Looking back, these were all seizures. But I genuinely believed it was just anxiety at the time.
“When I crashed my car in 2019, I didn’t feel quite right beforehand, but I’d gotten used to feeling low, so I ignored it. I remember trying to speak to my friend, but the words just came out jumbled.”
In 2022 though, she found out she had cancer in shocking fashion. She said: “That night after hearing the diagnosis, I lay in bed and cried into my pillow. It was the only time I allowed myself to properly break down.
“I sobbed quietly, not wanting anyone to hear. My mind was racing. All I could think was that I was going to die.
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“I remember watching a film and thinking that every single character could outlive me. But I didn’t stay in that place for long. I messaged a close friend, and she reminded me that I didn’t have to face it alone.
“The next morning, I told my dad. Saying it out loud helped take away some of the fear. From that point on, I chose to be open, honest and positive.”
Since then, Kim has been through radiotherapy and twelve rounds of chemotherapy, completing her treatment in October 2023. She now has six-monthly scans.
As part of her drive to be positive, she has, with her stepmother, led a fundraising campaign for the charity Brain Tumour Research. Their aim is to do 100 squats a day throughout August – and they have signed up more than 100 others from all over the country to join in, too.
Kim Wilson in a Brain Tumour Research t-shirt, handing out t-shirts to supporters of her challenge(Image: Brain tumour research / SWNS)
The oldest participant is 92-year-old Sadie Nuttall from Edinburgh, and the youngest are seven-year-old twins Alfie and Freddie Slade from Battle in East Sussex. Each participant has been tasked with raising £25, and together they have already raised more than £4,000 in just two weeks.
Kim, who grew up in the Leeds and Wakefield areas of Yorkshire, added: “I think Brain Tumour Research is a charity that’s genuinely going to make a difference. People don’t realise how common brain tumours are until it affects someone they know. When I was a teenager, around 13 or 14, I was in a band and the guitarist was diagnosed with the same type of tumour I have now.
“Back then, I didn’t understand how serious it was or how many people are impacted by this disease. That’s why I want to raise as much money as I can — to support the research, help push it further, and give people more treatment options.
“I’ve read about cases where brain cancer has been treated without surgery. Even if it can’t be cured, anything that helps people live longer and with less fear is worth fighting for. I want people to feel they can live with cancer, not just survive it. I can’t cure my own tumour, but I can help fund vital research that might lead to a cure for someone else in the future.”
Ashley McWilliams, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “Kim’s story is a powerful example of how easily brain tumour symptoms can be mistaken for something else. Her resilience and determination to turn a frightening diagnosis into action is deeply inspiring. We’re incredibly grateful for her support and advocacy.”
Find out more about Kim’s challenge and support the charity here.
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