Taste of ginger in my mouth blamed on menopause ... but I had brain tumour
WHEN Cheryl Byron developed a strange, ginger-like taste in her mouth, doctors were quick to reassure her that it was simply a symptom of her age.
They told her five times that the phenomenon, which left her feeling dizzy and disorientated, was down to the menopause.
But yesterday the 53-year-old fitness instructor revealed her devastation after it emerged medics had got her diagnosis dreadfully wrong. In reality, she has a brain tumour and could have less than two years to live.
Mrs Byron, a married mother of one, said: ‘I went from thinking I was just having some difficulty with the menopause to finding out I had a huge tumour.
‘The specialist later told me unusual smells, dizziness and disorientation are the first signs of either epilepsy or a tumour and I had both. Looking back now, it beggars belief that my doctor didn’t even think to check for a tumour. It’s appalling.’
Mrs Byron first visited her GP in Prestatyn, North Wales, in June last year. The doctor diagnosed burning mouth syndrome, a well-known symptom of the menopause, caused by hormone imbalances. As the dizzy spells worsened, Mrs Byron made another four trips to Central Prestatyn surgery. Each time she was reassured by her GP that her hormones were to blame.
But last month Mrs Byron collapsed at home and was rushed to Glan Clwyd Hospital, near Rhyl, for tests. Medics found an aggressive stage four glioblastoma brain tumour.
Mrs Byron, who has a daughter, Jamie-Lee, 27, with husband Jack, 69, said: ‘I’ve tried to be strong and hold it together but I had my first real wobble a few days ago when a mum was giving away her daughter at her wedding on TV. I realised I won’t get to do that and I couldn’t stop crying.’
A Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board spokesman said the board could not comment on individual patients.