EYE TEST SAVED ME FROM TUMOUR
‘It was a very scary time ’admits teen
A Hamilton schoolgirl was found with a brain tumour behind her eye at a routine opticians appointment.
Beth Mckendrick Rafferty has since had four operations and a y year of chemotherapy py to shrink the tumour but must now live with it forever.
The brave 14- yearold is delighted her
treatment was successful and is now urging others not to delay their eye tests as her appointment saved her life.
Beth suffered crippling headaches prior to her visit in December 2017 where her optician detected a shadow behind her right geye. She was referred straight to Hairmyres Hospital before a number of scans confirmed the devastatin devastating news.
Aged 12 at the time, Beth recalls: “It was a very scary time because I didn’t know kn what was going to happen. But then I understood un how importan important getting my eyes tested teste was.”
Worried mum Claire Mckendrick admits she was “petrified” when doctors c confirmed the tumour, s saying: “When you hear that word your mind goes to the worstcase scenario.”
A Hamilton schoolgirl’s life completely changed after a routine eye test led to a potentially deadly brain tumour diagnosis.
Fourteen-year-old Beth Mckendrick Rafferty endured excruciating headaches leading up to her appointment but put this down to just needing new glasses.
The truth, however, was far more serious as she was taken straight to Hairmyres Hospital from Specsavers, Hamilton.
The Hamilton Grammar pupil, then 12, received the devastating news that she had a brain tumour behind her right eye.
The pilocytic astrocytoma was pressing on the optic nerve and if left untreated could have caused blindness and even life-threatening strokes.
After four operations and 52 weeks of chemotherapy, Beth rang the bell to signal the good news that her treatment was a success and the tumour had reduced in size.
Despite knowing she has to live with the tumour forever, Beth is positive and is enjoying a normal life again.
Now she, along with mum Claire Mckendrick, are urging people to attend routine eye appointments after her one proved to be life-saving.
Beth told the Advertiser: “I don’t remember it all that well. I had a friend that was meant to be staying over at my house that night but my mum told me I had to go to hospital. That’s when I realised it was a bit more serious, something isn’t right here.
“The headaches were unbearable, they were distracting me from school work and my friends. I never had the energy most of the time. But it wasn’t just my head; my neck and back got really sore to the point I needed heat patches to stop the pain. It got really bad at times.”
Beth, who stays with mum, Claire, 53, and dad Daniel Rafferty, 55, in Hamilton admits the news became overwhelming once she realised she would be facing chemotherapy.
She added: “I remember one of the consultants mentioned chemotherapy at one point and that was the thing that made me think ‘what’s going on here?’, because everybody associates that with cancer and that made my brain go into a big fuzz.
“It was a very, very scary time because I didn’t know what was going to happen. When I realised the seriousness of the scenario, I understood how important getting my eyes tested was.”
It was a worrying time for Beth’s family, who feared the worst.
Claire explained: “We were petrified hearing ‘tumour’. When you hear that word your mind goes to the worst-case scenario. It was terrifying, as it would be for any parent.
“I think we all knew if she hadn’t got her eyes tested or left it later it could have gotten worse for Beth.
“As far as we knew the tumour was there and was growing so if we’d left it, who knows what would have happened.
“The early days when you don’t exactly know what it is is a bad period because it’s the unknown. At the beginning when we didn’t know the extent, that was the most frightening period.”
The worrying start to 2018 was only the beginning for Beth and her family.
After several visits to Wishaw General Hospital, CT scans, and an MRI scan to confirm the tumour was present, it was decided Beth would undergo a course of chemotherapy. This took place at Glasgow Children’s Hospital where Beth also underwent a biopsy, and a gradual draining procedure as part of her treatment.
“The worst for me was the chemo”, Beth explained. “It was a lot more painful and physically demanding. The operations were more mentally challenging, it was having to grasp that you need to go through it all, there’s no way out of it. You just knew you were that deep in but you had to keep persevering with it.”
Beth also admitted one of her biggest fears was losing her hair from the chemo.
She added: “It was hard when it was coming out. I wore a bandana to cover my head. When you see hospital adverts for kids on the television and they don’t have hair, I just didn’t want that to be me.”
Beth’s tumour has shrunk and now she only has to attend MRI scans every three months to monitor her eye and the end of her treatment was marked with a ringing of the bell in hospital – relief is an understatement for the family.
Beth said: “The minute they said it worked and after I had my last treatment it was such a big relief. I had all my family members there on a day that meant so much and it felt it had all been building up to that one day. Everyone was there for me ringing the bell, and as soon as I did they brought in this massive trolley which had every flavour of crisps, sweets, chocolate and juice, everything you can imagine. We had this mini little party and it was such a good day.
“My biggest goal was to get straight back out there and get back with all my friends, but obviously it wasn’t a case of doing that the next day after finishing chemo. It took me a while to get back on my feet again.”
An emotional Claire couldn’t be prouder of her daughter and added: “From the day she went into the hospital to how she deals with it now, she amazes me every day and we’re extremely proud of her. She’s dealt with it so maturely and so well, I don’t know if I would deal with it as well as she has.”
Beth was also thrown an end of chemo party where around 85 people attended, raising over £1400 for charity.
Emma Foster, store director at Specsavers Hamilton, said: “Beth’s case, although rare, is an example of how vital it is to go for a regular eye examinations and to contact your optometrist if you’re experiencing any issues with your eyesight or discomfort.
“We recommend getting your eyes checked every two years as they can detect various health conditions, not just changes in prescriptions.
“We’re thrilled to hear Beth is doing much better. She’s a wonderful girl and is always so friendly and talkative when she visits.”
I think we all knew if she hadn’t got her eyes tested, or left it later, it could have gotten worse for Beth