A ROMSEY beautician, who said an eye test ‘saved her life’ after she discovered she had a brain tumour, has met scientists researching the disease.

Katie Dunn, 30, was diagnosed with a meningioma after a routine eye test at Boots Optician.

Since she was diagnosed in February 2021, Katie has had two invasive surgeries, radiotherapy and has undergone fertility preservation. 

Throughout her treatment, Katie and her family have raised more than £3,000 for the charity Brain Tumour Research.

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Katie said: “During my treatment I felt well enough to put my mind to something positive and I took part in 10,000 Steps a Day in February with my family. To know that we have contributed towards sponsoring a day of research is brilliant.

“I feel like one of the lucky ones as if the tumour was left any longer, I could have lost my vision, or the outcome could have been even worse.”

In recognition of her fundraising efforts, Katie, along with her mum Maxine, stepdad Steve and fiancée James, was among a select group of supporters given the opportunity to tour the Centre of Excellence at the University of Plymouth.

They were taken on a tour of the lab by Professor David Parkinson who leads the team working on non-surgical treatment options for patients. 

Afterwards they placed a tile –representative of the £2,740 it costs to fund a day of research – on the centre’s Wall of Hope.

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During the visit they also learnt more about the progress being made there to find a cure for brain tumours.

Katie is now monitored with regular scans. She said: “Throughout everything in the last two years I have proved to myself that I am stronger than I ever thought.

“To visit the lab and meet scientists who are working tirelessly to find a cure for the disease was emotional and I am so pleased to have contributed to that in some way.”

Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK. It also campaigns for the Government and the larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, to find a cure. 

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The charity is the driving force behind the call for a national annual spend of £35 million in order to improve survival rates and patient outcomes in line with other cancers such as breast cancer and leukaemia and is also campaigning for greater repurposing of drugs.

To find out more about sponsoring a day of research go to braintumourresearch.org/fundraise/sponsor-a-day.