A man who was mistaken for being drunk during his commute discovered he actually had a brain tumour, initially misdiagnosed as vertigo. John Starns, 63, was travelling to work in central London when he suddenly felt unwell and had to leave the train at Sevenoaks.
He spent the next two hours slumped and sweating on a bench. He said people passed by and didn’t stop to help, likely assuming he was just drunk. John went on to consult his GP and was initially diagnosed with vertigo. However, when his condition didn’t improve, an MRI scan three months later revealed he had a vestibular schwannoma brain tumour.
He found out that his tumour was benign and now has scans every two years to monitor it. John, a freelance photographer from Sutton Valence, Kent, said: “It felt as though I was having a panic attack. I was disoriented, and it became difficult to walk. I found a bench and sat there for two hours, alone.
“No one approached me, I suspect because they thought I was drunk.” John started feeling unwell in February 2022, and in 2023 he began to experience “significant spells of dizziness” that he described as worrying and debilitating.
“At their worst, all I could do was lie down with my eyes closed and wait for the symptoms to recede,” he remembered. John was stunned when doctors discovered he had a tumour, but felt enormous relief upon learning it was benign, reports the Express.
He said: “MRI brain scans at Kings College Hospital followed, and I will never forget the emotional release I experienced when the lovely nurse called me to let me know that my tumour was benign. It was a very scary process to have to go through.”
He added: “So far, scans have shown my tumour as stable, and I barely suffer from any side effects. I am one of the lucky ones, but this isn’t about me.” John, an avid cyclist, has now become passionate about fundraising and is backing Brain Tumour Research. He is preparing for Cycle 274 Miles in August, a month-long fundraising initiative.
He said: “I’m committing to this cycle challenge to raise awareness of the disease and the desperate inadequacies that currently exist in the historic underfunding of brain tumours compared to other cancers. I cycle up to 20 miles a day, so I’ll have no problems reaching the 274-mile target.
“My story could have ended differently. That’s the reality for others. My hope is that by supporting Brain Tumour Research, more people will benefit from the advances in research.”
Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “John’s story is not uncommon, brain tumours are indiscriminate and can affect anyone at any age. One in three people in the UK knows someone affected by a brain tumour, but Brain Tumour Research is working to change this. “It’s with the support of people like John that we will help drive investment towards research into brain tumours. Good luck, John!” To donate to the GoFundMe page, visit this link.
What is a vestibular schwannoma brain tumour?
Vestibular schwannomas, commonly known as acoustic neuromas, are benign brain tumours that originate in the nerve linking the brain to the ear. These tumours develop from Schwann cells, which are fatty cells located on the outer layer of nerves.
Typically, vestibular schwannomas arise from the Schwann cells surrounding the vestibulocochlear nerve, which connects the brain to the ear and regulates hearing and balance. Vestibular schwannomas do not spread to other areas of the body.
Due to their slow growth over several years, symptoms often do not appear for a considerable amount of time. When you do have symptoms, they can be:
- hearing loss that usually affects one ear
- ringing and buzzing sounds in 1 or both ears (tinnitus)
- difficulty working out where sounds are coming from
- dizziness or vertigo
- numbness of the face (this usually only happens in advanced tumours)
Rarely, vestibular schwannomas are caused by a genetic condition called neurofibromatosis. People with neurofibromatosis are often diagnosed at a much younger age. They usually develop tumours on both sides of the brain (bilateral).
Tests help diagnose vestibular schwannoma. Doctors usually check the size and location of the tumour, which helps determine the best treatment. You might have hearing tests, an MRI scan, and a CT scan.
