Penmaenmawr mum tells how brain tumour turned her life upside down

Jul 21 2011 by Rayyan Parry, North Wales Weekly News

A MUM-OF-THREE has told how her life has been transformed after being diagnosed with a major brain tumour.

Carina Hughes, 32 of Gwynan Road, Penmaenmawr was diagnosed with the tumour, the size of a grapefruit, in 2007. It was a routine visit to her optometrist that identified the growth behind her eye. Doctors said she would die if they didn’t operate immediately.

Since then, Carina has battled a total of eight operations to tackle the condition. However, it has not been without its side effects. Now, the mum struggles with balance, her eyesight has slowly deteriorated and she is deaf in one ear.

“I was in shock when the doctor told me I had a tumour,” said Carina.

“They told me if they didn’t operate I could die. It was hard.”

In 2007, Carina was rushed to Walton Hospital in Liverpool to undergo a crucial 14-hour operation. The operation would lessen the size of the tumour but doctors said they would not risk taking the full growth away as it could paralyse her for the rest of her life.

Following the operation, Carina would undergo a lifetime of surgery and radiotherapy treatment to tackle the condition. Last week Carina underwent her eighth operation in Liverpool to fit a shunt on her brain. The two-hour operation helped to take fluid out of the brain which could cause permanent damage. However, doctors are unsure if the condition could persist and Carina will return to Walton Hospital in eight weeks for a check up.

Carina said it all began after she started suffering headaches four years ago. Brushing it off as stress, Carina put off going to the doctors. Now she urges that people should act on warning signs as soon as possible.

“The slightest thing now, I’ll go to the doctors,” said Carina.

“I don’t miss any appointments now. It’s changed the way I am. If there’s a sign of trouble, don’t take the risk. If you’re not satisfied with what the doctors are saying, keep on going back. My doctor originally said I was a hypochondriac.”

Now she is being looked after at home by her mother whilst her daughter, Kelsey, 11, also helps at home. However, Carina’s children live with family members.

Sister, Moya Hughes, from Llanfairfechan who looked after one of her daughters for a period, said: “She’s an absolute star to everybody. It makes you think what you’re moaning about, when you see what she’s been through.

“It’s been stressful but it has brought us together as a family.”