What mum thought was 'baby brain' was tumour

A NEW mum was diagnosed with a brain tumour, after dismissing her fatigue and headaches as 'baby brain.

- by EMILY SMITH & SHANNON BROWN

Amy Dyer, 37, believed her extreme tiredness and low concentration were simply part of life as a parent, until a terrifying seizure in her sleep led to a devastating diagnosis.

A biopsy later confirmed she had a low-grade astrocytoma and she underwent an awake craniotomy in June 2023.

The surgery was a success and further testing revealed the tumour was a more aggressive grade three astrocytoma.

Following the operation, Amy underwent physiotherapy, occupational therapy, radiotherapy and oral chemotherapy. To her relief, last month she received her first clear scan.

Amy, a computer science teacher from Cullompton, said: “I'd had our little boy and was juggling life as a mum and teaching. I thought I had what everyone calls 'baby brain' tiredness, low concentration, feeling foggy. It all just felt like part of motherhood, especially after having a baby.

“I didn’t go to the doctors because I genuinely thought it was just postnatal exhaustion, maybe low iron or fatigue. Nothing unusual.”

However, in December 2022, after experiencing “terrible” headaches, low concentration and eventually a seizure in her sleep, Amy was rushed to the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital.