Brain tumour diagnosis ‘upended’ Collette’s life as she knew it

Forty two-year-old Colette Scollan was diagnosed with a grade two meningioma, a type of brain tumour, in February 2022. In December 2021 the Leitrim Village mother started to have what she thought were severe migraines. 

She was experiencing headaches, blurred vision, nausea, was sensitive to light and felt woozy. She would be very sick for one or two days, then OK for few days, before the cycle would repeat. She went to her GP who referred her for an MRI, which would subsequently reveal a meningioma.

Colette has now decided to tell her story and highlight her situation for International Brain Tumour Awareness Week which is taking place this week.

“I had neurosurgery to remove most of the meningioma in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin in late March 2022. The meningioma had spread from my brain down to my jaw bone and, while some of the tumour was removed from my jaw, some remained and had to be treated with radiotherapy,” she explained.

“I had a total of 30 radiotherapy sessions from October to November 2022 and am so grateful to friends and family for driving me from Leitrim to Dublin every day during that time.” 

For Colette, being diagnosed with a brain tumour has upended life as she knew it: “The tumour has changed my life completely. I initially thought that once I had the surgery, and had recovered, that all would return to normal. However, receiving the confirmation that it is a grade two tumour, and needing radiotherapy, has had a major impact on my life. My energy levels remain lower than normal. 

"I have to plan in advance when my busy days will be so that I don’t have two busy days in a row, or else I become exhausted and overwhelmed. I am still not allowed to drive which can be frustrating, especially with two young children who need ferrying about!” 

Despite the challenges, Colette is keen to highlight the positives for her: “Notwithstanding everything, I am grateful that my tumour was operable and that things are stable for now. I take minor things in life less seriously, and I prioritise my family and myself over everything else. I have recently returned to work part-time which is good, even if it is tough not being able to operate at the level that I had prior to my tumour diagnosis. I am trying to work towards a ‘new normal’ and hope that energy will come in time.” 

When it comes to brain tumour awareness, Colette has this message: “Don’t be afraid to go to your GP and ask for tests if something is just not right, particularly if something is new to you, such as a headache, or vision problems, or sensitivity to light. I was lucky that my GP sent me on for an MRI pretty soon after my initial presentation. It’s better to get that MRI, and get the all-clear, or find out if there’s something there, than not to get it!” 

Colette has very definite hopes for the future: “I hope that my health continues to improve. I hope that I live to see my kids get older and enjoy their own lives. And I hope that my brain tumour isn’t the first thing I think of every day when I wake up!” 

Colette works as an eHealth planning manager at the HSE. She is married to Damian, and has a son Cooper (age 6) and daughter Bonnie (age 5). She also has two pet hens, Bokker and Rattle, and so gets to enjoy fresh eggs every morning for breakfast!

• For more information on brain tumours, and the work of Brain Tumour Ireland, the national charity supporting people with a brain tumour and their families, visit www.braintumourireland.com