Elizabeth Murphy, a 60-year-old woman, initially chalked up her struggles with word retrieval, fluent typing, and accurate spelling to menopause and her demanding job as a court clerk. However, the reality was far more serious—Elizabeth had two brain tumors.

Attributing her symptoms to menopausal brain fog and exhaustion from long hours in court, she continued with her routine until severe headaches and facial drooping prompted a visit to Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, Somerset. There, doctors initially suspected she had suffered a brain hemorrhage.

An MRI conducted late at night unveiled the presence of a meningioma, a specific type of brain tumor. Five months later, after much waiting for specialist consultations, she learned the startling news that she actually had two brain tumors. Her condition is now being closely observed with regular MRI scans.

Reflecting on the experience, Elizabeth, who resides in Taunton, shared, “I assumed it was just menopause. My speech was becoming stuttered, I had trouble finding words, and my typing wasn’t as fluid as before.”

She continued, “But when my face started drooping, my colleagues noticed, and I knew I had to seek help again. That’s when everything changed drastically.”

“Hearing it was a tumor was a shock. We had thought it was a brain bleed, so the diagnosis was completely unexpected,” she recounted.

Elizabeth started experiencing symptoms in early 2025, but initially dismissed them. The crown court clerk was accustomed to long hours in court and attributed her brain fog to menopausal symptoms.

Elizabeth began questioning herself when she found it increasingly difficult to locate her words, type smoothly and spell correctly. However, when Elizabeth’s face began to sag on one side and the headache intensified, she opted to have it examined once more.

She was stunned when doctors discovered a tumour and even more astonished when she was informed it was actually two in March 2025.

Elizabeth said: “I went home and waited five months to hear from neurology. It was terrifying, I kept thinking, what if it’s growing?

“Then when I finally saw the specialist, they told me not only did I have one tumour, but actually two.”

Medical professionals recommended Elizabeth to “watch and wait,” as both tumours were non-cancerous and developing slowly, though she will now require frequent MRI scans to track the progression. This November, Brain Tumour Research is encouraging individuals to participate in the 99 Miles in November challenge, a fitness fundraising initiative to help discover a cure for brain tumours. Elizabeth is undertaking the challenge to support the charity funding the research that will eventually save lives.

“I’m grateful to be here and to be celebrating my 60th birthday,” she said. “I’ll be in Sri Lanka doing the first two weeks of Brain Tumour Research’s 99 Miles in November challenge, walking to raise vital money for research. I want others to have hope, but we need more funding and support for people like me who are left waiting and worrying.”

Letty Greenfield, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “Elizabeth’s story highlights how easily brain tumour symptoms can be mistaken for something else, from stress to menopause. Her experience shows why it’s so important to listen to your body and push for answers. We’re incredibly grateful to Elizabeth for sharing her story and taking part in our 99 Miles in November challenge.”

Elizabeth’s fundraiser can be found on JustGiving.