Libby Woolaston, a mother of three from Wolverhampton, was diagnosed with an atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumour after her persistent headaches were dismissed as stress by her GP.
Doctors initially attributed her symptoms to hormonal changes or depression
Woolaston first experienced headaches in summer 2024 but was repeatedly told her concerns were due to hormones, stress, or depression until she lost vision in one eye.
Treatment involved surgical removal of the tumour via a four-hour procedure through the nose
Following diagnosis, the pituitary tumour was removed through her nose in a four-hour surgery at a Birmingham hospital. She then underwent a lumbar puncture, radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment.
She now advocates for patients to trust their symptoms and seek further medical advice
Woolaston, now cancer-free since February 2026, plans to walk 200km to raise money for brain tumour research and urges others not to ignore their symptoms.
What type of tumour was Libby Woolaston diagnosed with?
She was diagnosed with an atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumour (AT/RT), a type of cancer usually found in children under the age of three.
Where was the tumour removed?
The tumour was removed through her nose in a four-hour surgery at a Birmingham hospital.