Living with Brain Tumours – Katherine’s Diagnosis Story
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Katherine from Cambridgeshire is someone whose story challenges expectations at every turn.
Living with multiple benign meningiomas, she has undergone numerous surgeries, extensive radiotherapy, and faced additional complications including epilepsy and a stroke. Despite this, Katherine continues to work full time and approaches life with a clear, pragmatic, and determined mindset. A former diving instructor trainer and qualified sailing captain, she has had to adapt to significant changes — including the end of a professional diving career — yet remains firmly focused on what she can do, rather than what she can’t. Her story is one of resilience, independence, and a refusal to be defined by diagnosis. |
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I received a call [...] It was Christmas Eve and the doctor said "Actually, you've got a brain tumour."
About Benign Meningiomas (brain tumours)
Benign meningiomas are a type of brain tumour that develop from the meninges - the protective layers surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
Unlike malignant tumours, they are typically slow-growing and non-cancerous, but their location within the skull means they can still cause significant symptoms by putting pressure on nearby brain tissue.
These symptoms can include headaches, seizures, changes in vision, or weakness in parts of the body, depending on where the tumour is situated.
The exact cause is not always known, though factors such as age, female hormones, and previous exposure to radiation may increase risk. In the UK, meningiomas are the most common type of primary brain tumour, accounting for around 25–30% of all brain tumours, and are diagnosed in several thousand people each year.
While many remain stable and may not require immediate treatment, others - like in Katherine’s case - can require ongoing monitoring, surgery, or radiotherapy depending on their size, number, and impact.
Unlike malignant tumours, they are typically slow-growing and non-cancerous, but their location within the skull means they can still cause significant symptoms by putting pressure on nearby brain tissue.
These symptoms can include headaches, seizures, changes in vision, or weakness in parts of the body, depending on where the tumour is situated.
The exact cause is not always known, though factors such as age, female hormones, and previous exposure to radiation may increase risk. In the UK, meningiomas are the most common type of primary brain tumour, accounting for around 25–30% of all brain tumours, and are diagnosed in several thousand people each year.
While many remain stable and may not require immediate treatment, others - like in Katherine’s case - can require ongoing monitoring, surgery, or radiotherapy depending on their size, number, and impact.
Supported by...
This episode of Diagnosed is supported by You ID Me, helping people with medical conditions stay safe in emergencies.
Every You ID Me medical ID product features a unique ID / QR code which does three powerful things in case of emergency: -
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📢 Share your story on DiagnosedAre you living with a medical condition? Your experience could help someone who’s newly diagnosed feel understood and less alone. Most interviews are recorded remotely and you’ll be guided through the process.
PS. Your health story is personal — and we treat it that way. You choose what you share. You can pause, skip questions, or withdraw at any time before publishing. Your comfort, privacy and dignity always come first. |
Real stories. Real conditions. Real people.
Diagnosed podcast: Lee with Julie Carpenter
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Every episode features a guest who has experienced a professional diagnosis — from familiar conditions to rare or complex ones.
Lee interviews men and women living with medical conditions including:
As the series grows, we aim to cover as many medical conditions as possible, building a library of powerful stories that support and guide listeners at every stage of their own journey. |
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Nothing that you'll hear on this podcast is intended to constitute medical advice or even guidance. For that we always recommend you visit your GP or your specialist medical consultant for professional medical advice.
