A British woman is recovering after learning she had a brain tumor during pregnancy, tipped off by a bout of blurry vision. Abbie Keet, 24, developed a golf ball-sized mass while expecting her first child. Her symptoms worsened after her son Hudson's birth in August 2023. She went blind for 30 seconds every five minutes.
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Keet visited her local optician, who suspected papilledema, a swelling of the optic disc. Hospital tests soon revealed a large brain mass. Doctors performed a biopsy, confirming craniopharyngioma, a rare, non-cancerous tumor near the pituitary gland. Surgeons scheduled her for an operation in February 2024.
The surgery removed most of the tumor. Its location near the pituitary gland prevented full extraction. Keet now faces scans every six months to monitor growth. Doctors clarified her pregnancy did not cause the tumor, despite symptoms starting then.
Keet, a stay-at-home mom, recalled a tough pregnancy. "My second trimester brought awful sickness," she said, via The Daily Mail. Chichester Hospital's eye clinic ran further tests. "They called me within hours," Keet explained. A CT scan confirmed the mass. Southampton Hospital neurosurgeons took over her care.
Tumor Caught in Nick of Time
In January 2024, a biopsy verified the craniopharyngioma diagnosis. "I was going blind every few minutes," Keet said. "Knowing it was benign brought relief, but surgery loomed." The eight-hour operation in February 2024 spared some tumor due to its tricky spot. "It pressed on my optical nerve and pituitary gland," she noted. Her pituitary gland failed, requiring hormone replacement. Early menopause remains a risk.
Recovery proved challenging. Keet's wound opened, leading to more surgery in November 2024. Surgeons removed an infected bone flap and fitted a metal plate. Regular scans now track the remaining tumor. "I couldn't have it all removed because of its location," she said.
The ordeal hit her family hard. Keet missed Hudson's first year, shuttling between hospitals. Her partner juggled caring for her and their son. "My mother-in-law moved in," she said. "I couldn't be alone with him, risking blindness." She now cherishes time with Hudson, making up for lost moments.
Catherine Fraher of The Brain Tumour Charity praised Keet's courage. "Every family copes uniquely with a brain tumor," Fraher said. "We offer support so no one feels alone."
