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Runner's Headaches Reveal Orange-Sized Brain Tumour
11 Oct
Summary
- Emily Bahan's headaches were misattributed to dehydration during marathon training.
- A seizure led to an MRI scan revealing an orange-sized brain tumour.
- Surgery to remove the tumour resulted in temporary paralysis of her left side.
Emily Bahan, a 25-year-old nuclear course leader, experienced persistent headaches while training for the Edinburgh marathon. She initially attributed these dull headaches to not drinking enough water, increasing her intake significantly but finding no relief. Her symptoms escalated when she suffered a seizure in March 2026, a year after a similar incident. This prompted an MRI scan to rule out epilepsy.
The scan, however, revealed a significant medical issue: a 4.5cm brain tumour, comparable in size to an orange. This discovery was a profound shock to Emily, who maintained a very active lifestyle. On August 7, 2026, she underwent surgery to remove as much of the grade two diffuse astrocytoma as possible.
Following the surgery, Emily experienced paralysis on her left side, requiring her to relearn walking and arm use. Doctors were unable to remove the entire tumour due to its location near critical brain pathways. She is set to undergo another MRI scan in January 2027 to assess the extent of the tumour's removal and will begin medication in October 2026 to slow its growth.
