The MRI scan saw a brain tumour

The thought of a cancer monster replicating itself into an uncontrollable mass of pain and suffering deep inside your body is enough to send chills down your spine. But thoughts are nothing compared to the chilling reality of when it happens to you.

So I imagine. I can't (yet) claim that rogue cells inside my body have built their own cancerous army, but live long enough and I will. 1 in 3 of us will suffer from cancer at some point in our lives. Even if we could avoid exposing ourselves to the many DNA-damaging chemicals in our environment that can initiate cancer, the very act of living increases our risk of cancer. Imagining all the millions of cells inside us that undergo cell replication, it's truly amazing that most of us can can reach adulthood without this cell cycle going wrong and causing cancer.

A relation of mine has just been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour. A 5.3cm tumour embedded near the motor centres of the cortex was hastily removed when symptoms appeared that revealed its nasty unwelcome presence. I can't possibly imagine how a cancer can reach that size without becoming symptomatic earlier. Surely if you push aside enough brain tissue to make a bar of soap, you're going to feel more than a little headache-y.

It's a scary thought, that many cancers can go by unnoticed with no means of detection until it is perhaps too late. It's not like any of us have access to regular brain scans...

Guilt surfaces in my own brain at this point in the story. I myself have  undergone two MRI brain scans this week as part of an experimental study for a friend's PhD. At the end, I received a chocolate biscuit to revive me from the boredom, some petrol vouchers to thank me for my time, and most importantly, an ethically-required letter from a specialist stating that "within the constraints of the experimental scan" I am apparently free from brain tumours, at this point of time.

As much as I berated the boredom and time-wasting nature of experimental MRI, I realise exactly how lucky I am to have such an opportunity to look inside my own mind and check everything is ok. For someone who perhaps isn't as healthy, this would have been a lifesaving  opportunity.