Headaches Masked as Stress Hid Tennis Ball Brain Tumor

In December 2025, Gillian Keating, a 21-year-old student in Virginia, began experiencing severe headaches that caused nausea and discomfort. Her initial doctor suggested they were likely stress-related due to her academic workload. However, the persistent and worsening migraines prompted her to seek a second opinion during her Christmas break.

A subsequent MRI scan in January 2026 revealed a significant medical issue: a two-inch benign brain tumor located in her left frontal cortex. Doctors identified the tumor as the cause of her debilitating symptoms and immediately directed her to the emergency room, noting its pressure on the brain region responsible for executive function, motor control, and language.

Keating underwent a six-hour craniotomy to remove the tumor, which doctors estimated had been growing for three to four years. While the tumor was successfully removed, she has been advised to undergo radiation therapy as a precautionary measure to prevent recurrence. The ordeal has necessitated postponing her college graduation and a job she had secured.

Now recovering, Keating shares her experience to encourage young people to trust their instincts and pursue medical attention persistently, even if initially dismissed. She stresses the importance of seeking second opinions, as her own persistence led to the critical diagnosis and treatment of her benign brain tumor.