A West Yorkshire community pharmacist is fundraising for a brain tumour charity after she received a misdiagnosis thought to be linked to food poisoning (June 27). 

Bradford pharmacist Sameira Khan was diagnosed with a type of brain tumour called astrocytoma, which has a prognosis of 12 to 16 months. 

Khan had gallbladder surgery in March but four weeks later she had intense headaches, fatigue and vomiting. 

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After visiting A&E at Bradford Royal Infirmary, a doctor initially dismissed her symptoms as food poisoning, but she deteriorated quickly and was rushed to Leeds for an MRI and other tests before a surgeon recommended emergency brain surgery. 

“It was terrifying,” Khan said. “I was just 27, fit, healthy, and working full-time as a pharmacist.  

“A month later, that had all changed and I was fighting for my life. It was impossible to process how quickly everything had changed.” 

Visibility 

The emergency surgery removed most of Khan’s brain tumour but she was formally diagnosed a week afterwards with astrocytoma, and since May she started radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment. 

She’s “realised how important it is to speak up” about her illness too.  

“As a British Pakistani woman, I’ve noticed how rare it is to see people from my background sharing stories like this.  

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“In our communities, it can be difficult to talk openly about illness, but I believe change starts with visibility.” 

Since her diagnosis, Khan decided to fundraise for Brain Tumour Research who focus on finding cures for all brain tumours. 

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The charity’s community development manager Ashley McWilliams said it was "incredibly grateful for her support” and Khan’s story is “a powerful reminder of how easily brain tumours can be misdiagnosed”. 

Khan said: “Brain tumours don’t discriminate, and we all need to be more aware.  

“This disease is also the leading cause of cancer deaths among children and adults under 40, yet just one percent of the national spend on cancer research is allocated to them.  

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“That isn’t good enough. We need more investment, better treatments, and ultimately a cure.” 

Khan has raised £1,465 so far and while she doesn’t know “what the future holds”, she’s happy to share her experience as if it “makes even one person feel less alone, it’s worth every moment”.