'I don't know when my time will come': Student who thought she had FOOD POISONING is diagnosed with incurable brain tumour (but says she is determined to live life to the full)

  • Charlotte Green, 25, thought she had food poisoning when she began vomiting
  • But the nausea continued for months and she began to shake down her right side
  • The teaching assistant was diagnosed with an incurable cancerous brain tumour
  • Now Charlotte, from Solihull, lives life to the full but there is currently no cure

A student who believed she had food poisoning was left devastated when she was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour.

Charlotte Green, 25, from Solihull, was in her final year studying at Worcester University when she began experiencing constant nausea and began to shake down one side of her body.

After a GP initially put her symptoms down to stress, Charlotte was eventually diagnosed with the cancerous growth.

Charlotte Green was in her final year at university when she began vomitting and thought she had food poisoning - but months later she was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour

Charlotte Green was in her final year at university when she began vomitting and thought she had food poisoning - but months later she was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour

The teaching assistant now travels with her 'supportive partner', Nick Guise, and 'lives life to the full' - but is constantly aware that she 'does not know when her time will come', as there is currently no cure for her type of tumour.

Charlotte has been living with her rare Grade Three anaplastic astrocytoma since 2014, and has undergone a biopsy.

She received the devastating diagnosis in March that year, after her mother took her to Solihull Hospital A&E when she could not stop shaking. 

She had been nauseous since a New Year's Day party and they no longer thought she could be suffering from food poisoning. 

Charlotte explained: 'I can barely recall that time.  I couldn't get out of bed I was so sick. I assumed I had food poisoning.

Charlotte (pictured with her boyfriend Nick Guise) has been living with her rare Grade Three anaplastic astrocytoma since 2014

Charlotte (pictured with her boyfriend Nick Guise) has been living with her rare Grade Three anaplastic astrocytoma since 2014

'At the time I was in my third year at university and had quite a lot of assignments to hand in, and I was applying for a PGCE course.

'I can't really explain it, but I just felt really strange. During lectures I wouldn't hear words or parts that my lecturer had said- it was like I'd lost my normal focus.

'When my mum took me to A&E it was the first time a medical professional had seen the shaking first hand. That's when they gave me a scan.'

Initially Charlotte was referred to a doctor who told her he was unable to operate due to the location of the tumour, and he wished to monitor it.

The teaching assistant had six weeks of radiotherapy to shrink the incurable tumour, at which time she left university and her life 'got put on a complete stop'

The teaching assistant had six weeks of radiotherapy to shrink the incurable tumour, at which time she left university and her life 'got put on a complete stop'

But Charlotte and her parents sought a second opinion and met with a second doctor. He performed a biopsy operation and Charlotte was told her tumour was cancerous - a rare Grade Three anaplastic astrocytoma.

She went onto have six weeks of radiotherapy at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to shrink the incurable tumour. She left university and her life 'got put on a complete stop'.

Charlotte said: 'I was in total shock. I was devastated when I had to leave university.

'The type and location of the tumour I have means it is very difficult to operate without causing permanent damage.

'The way I coped with it, as well as with my partner Nick, family and friends, was to know everything I could about it.

'I would do my own research and have a long list of questions when I went to see my doctor.'

But Charlotte is determined not to let the tumour stop her living her life, and just months after finishing her radiotherapy went back to university and graduated the following year with a First Class honours degree

But Charlotte is determined not to let the tumour stop her living her life, and just months after finishing her radiotherapy went back to university and graduated the following year with a First Class honours degree

Charlotte and Nick are spending time together travelling the world, and she is also spending time going to the gym multiple times a week and working hard

Charlotte and Nick are spending time together travelling the world, and she is also spending time going to the gym multiple times a week and working hard

She says she has come to terms with the fact she will have to 'rewrite' her own story  

She says she has come to terms with the fact she will have to 'rewrite' her own story  

But Charlotte was determined not to let the tumour stop her living her life. 

Just months after finishing her radiotherapy Charlotte went back to university and graduated the following year with a First Class honours degree.

Since then she has been stable, continues to have scans every three months and is now an ambassador for The Brain Tumour Charity.

She is determined to live life to the full, travelling the world with her boyfriend Nick Guise, going to the gym multiple times a week and working hard. 

'My type of tumour doesn't have a cure at the moment,' Charlotte said. 'Since my diagnosis, I have been to a number of amazing places in the world, including Australia, which I have been lucky enough to experience with my brilliant, supportive partner Nick.

Charlotte (pictured at a charity event) says that it is the support of her friends and family that keep her motivated despite her uncertain future 

Charlotte (pictured at a charity event) says that it is the support of her friends and family that keep her motivated despite her uncertain future 

'I also work full time as a teaching assistant and go to the gym four or five times a week. I'm always go, go, go.

'Along the way, I have come to terms with the fact that I have had to rewrite my own life story and that it's OK if it's not the same as everyone else's.

'I don't know when my time will come. I've researched the statistics and asked medical professionals but I have realised that nobody can give me an exact prognosis.

'It's a terrible thing for my family, partner and my friends. But we cope with it by dealing with it together and supporting each other.'

To find out information about fundraising events, including how to sign up for the 10km Warwick Twilight Walk, visit The Brain Tumour Charity

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