A pregnant woman who thought her dizziness and fainting were caused by gestational diabetes has been diagnosed with stage four brain cancer, forcing an emergency caesarean section nine weeks before her due date.
Seizure Leads to Shocking Diagnosis
Amy Carroll, 34, a support worker and mindset coach from Great Addington, Northamptonshire, was diagnosed with gestational diabetes at the start of her fourth pregnancy. When she began experiencing dizzy spells and fainting, she assumed they were related to the condition. However, on 17 June, her partner Torrin Sirus, 36, woke up to find her having a seizure in bed. An ambulance rushed her to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford at 3am.
Two days later, after CT and MRI scans, doctors confirmed Amy had stage four brain cancer with seven masses on her brain. Medical staff subsequently verified it was secondary cancer, linked to the breast cancer she had beaten in 2021.
Emergency C-Section Scheduled
Treatment is so urgent that doctors have arranged an emergency caesarean section on Monday 6 July, when Amy will be almost 31 weeks pregnant. The procedure will allow her to begin radiotherapy the following week. Speaking from her hospital bed, Amy said: "This pregnancy saved my life because I didn't realise I was ill. After my breast cancer treatment, I was told I could never have kids so this baby is a miracle."
She added: "At the start of my pregnancy, I started to feel unwell and was diagnosed with gestational diabetes for the first time ever. I was feeling a bit dizzy and faint but thought it was a side effect of the diabetes and tried to shake it off. Then my partner woke up to me having a seizure and an ambulance rushed me to hospital, I don't remember any of that. Within a couple of days, they told me the cancer had come back and there were seven masses on my brain."
Previous Breast Cancer Battle
Amy first discovered she had breast cancer in 2021 after undergoing cosmetic breast surgery following breastfeeding. She explained: "I had my boys quite young and my boobs looked different, so I went and had breast surgery. That was when I noticed the little lump that turned out to be breast cancer. I ended up having chemotherapy, radiotherapy and eight different surgeries. I'm past the point of caring what my boobs look like now but that cosmetic surgery saved my life as I wouldn't have known I had cancer then."
After her breast cancer treatment, doctors told her she could not have more children. So when she became pregnant, she considered it a miracle. The baby was due on her birthday, which felt extra special. Now, the baby—named Arlo Atlas Sirus—will arrive early. Amy said: "Now he is coming on Monday I'll have to be put under general anaesthetic then, fingers crossed, when I come round I can see him. They said babies at this age should recover well and the doctors have been very reassuring."
Concerns About Treatment and Family
Amy is deeply concerned about the potential side effects of her treatment, which may include memory loss, balance issues, loss of eyesight, and inability to talk. She said: "I just don't want to forget my life and my kids, I just don't want to lose that."
Her three other sons, aged 18, 12 and eight, have not yet visited her in hospital but are expected later this week before her surgery. Amy said: "The boys haven't been able to visit yet, but they are coming up later this week before I go under general anaesthetic as I look at the worst case scenario. We're going to go to Costa and just have a nice time. I just want my kids to have a bit of normality in the six week holiday coming up, so I hope everything goes well."
Support from Friends
After beating breast cancer, Amy threw herself into fundraising for others facing similar battles. A friend, Kirsty Wilkinson, has set up a JustGiving page to support Amy. Amy said: "When I beat cancer the first time, I started fundraising as it helped me and was good to help people. I wish I had this support when I was going through it the first time, as if you've got the right people and support then that helps you get up every morning. I was so shocked and surprised when Kirsty set up my JustGiving. I've fundraised for others but never for myself before so I was taken aback, but it was so lovely and so thoughtful of her."
