Swift action by Brownhills optician leads to brain tumour diagnosis
A mother of five from Brownhills is thankful she had an additional scan at her Brownhills opticians following the discovery of a brain tumour.
Ginette England, 44, had suffered with persistent headaches since December 2024 which doctors diagnosed as migraines. When theses persisted, Ginette decided to make an appointment to get her eyes checked at Specsavers on the High Street.
She was seen by pre-reg optometrist, Mohammed Ali, who carried out an optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan, which is an addition to the standard eye test. This hospital-grade piece of equipment helps view the structure of the eye in greater detail. The scan identified a blurred optic disc in Ginette’s right eye, which Mohammed confirmed with his supervisor, ophthalmic director, Mohit Verma, before making an urgent referral to New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton.
"When Mohammed was checking my vision, he told me he had seen something that needed further investigation and I’m so grateful for his prompt action to refer me to the hospital," comments Ginette. "Things took a turn for the worse though as a few days before my referral appointment, I passed out at home. When my husband returned from work and found me, he immediately called 999. I was rushed to The Manor Hospital, where I explained to the doctor what had been happening. They quickly sent me for a CT scan to investigate the cause.
"The CT scan showed swelling on my brain and a Glioblastoma, which is a type of tumour, behind my right eye. It was an overwhelming shock, but things moved quickly from there. I was scheduled for surgery, and the surgeon managed to remove 80% of the tumour. About a week later, I got a call from my doctor and learned that the tumour was cancerous. Everything felt like it happened in a blur, but I'm staying positive and focused on my treatment plan. My five children mean the world to me, and they’re always my top priority."
"‘Ginette was one of the first customers I saw when I joined the store," adds Mohammed. "When she came in, she told me she’d been struggling with headaches. When I examined the OCT scan I noticed the optic disc was blurred. This, paired with the other symptoms that Ginette had mentioned, told me that further investigation was needed.
"I caught up with Ginette recently when she popped back into the store and I tested her son’s eyes. During the appointment, she took a moment to share what had happened since I last saw her. She expressed just how grateful she was for the OCT scan, which played a crucial role in uncovering what was going on. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that we were able to help Ginette get the answers she needed and that she’s now receiving treatment.
"Ginette did the right thing by coming into Specsavers to get checked, we’re here to help in whatever way we can. The eyes can provide valuable insights into a person's overall health, from helping to detect diabetes to picking up symptoms of high blood pressure. I’d urge anyone who has experienced changes to their vision to get their eyes t checked. Regular tests and OCT scans can help detect conditions that may need further treatment."
