Is it “just” anxiety? For years, Jodie Boulton, a 38-year-old British woman, suffered recurring headaches that her doctors attributed to an anxious personality. But the cause was very different…
His story recalls an important medical reality: certain trivialized psychological symptoms can sometimes mask an organic cause. And when they last, they must be explored.
A long medical wandering before the diagnosis
Jodie’s fight began in 2020. Intense headaches, fatigue, general malaise: she increased the number of consultations faced with a situation that she considered debilitating. But none of his doctors are panicking. They attribute his problems… to chronic anxiety.
The turning point comes in her thirties, when Jodie’s periods suddenly stop. This hormonal abnormality ultimately leads to an MRI in March 2025, after referral to an endocrinologist.
The examination then reveals a brain mass.the size of a clementine“.
A meningioma that has been growing for 20 years
“I was both angry and relieved. Angry that I had suffered for so long without answers, but relieved to finally know the cause,” she confides in The Mirror. When diagnosed, doctors estimated that the tumor could have been present for almost twenty years.
Over time, her symptoms worsen: balance problems, double vision… In June 2025, she underwent a 12-hour operation which removed around 85% of the tumor. A part, wrapped around the optic nerve, cannot be removed.
The diagnosis was made: a low-grade meningioma, the most common form of brain tumor.
Convalescence becomes complicated. Ten days after the operation, an infection set in, leading to the removal of part of his skull. Since then, Jodie has been waiting for a titanium plate to be fitted to reconstruct the operated area. In the meantime, this 38-year-old optical consultant must wear a protective helmet every day.
What is a meningioma?
Meningioma is a tumor that develops from the meninges, the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. In approximately 90% of cases, it is a benign tumor (grade I). More rarely, it can be atypical (grade II) or malignant (grade III).
Unlike other brain tumors such as gliomas, meningioma does not directly infiltrate the brain: it gradually compresses it as it grows. This slow evolution explains why it can remain silent for years.
These tumors most often appear after age 50, but can be diagnosed in younger adults. Many are discovered incidentally during an imaging test. Anxiety or depression affects 30 to 50% of patients, often related to the diagnosis or the tumor itself, but these disorders generally improve over time.
Persistent symptoms which should alert
For Dr. Gérald Kierzek, medical director of True Medical, Jodie’s story illustrates an essential point: a symptom that lasts is always worth exploring.
“This is a rare case, but it shows that a persistent complaint should lead to medical vigilance and, if necessary, brain imaging,” he emphasizes.
According to him, anxiety becomes worrying when it exceeds six weeks, intensifies or disrupts daily life with an impact on sleep, work, social relationships… Chronic fatigue, recurrent sleep disorders, increased irritability or palpitations should also lead to consultation.
Certain associated neurological signs should be particularly alarming:
- Persistent headaches, especially in the morning;
- Unexplained nausea;
- Blurred or double vision;
- Memory or concentration problems;
- Personality changes;
- Muscle weakness;
- Balance problems;
- Epileptic seizures or tinnitus.
“When faced with new or unusual anxiety in adults, especially if it is accompanied by neurological symptoms, a CT scan or MRI may be necessary to rule out an organic cause,” specifies the doctor.
Stay vigilant without giving in to worry
A period of stress? However, do not see this as a reason to think about meningioma. In the vast majority of cases, anxiety disorders are not linked to a brain tumor. But Jodie’s story is a reminder that a cluster of symptoms that persists or worsens should be taken seriously.
Today, despite the after-effects and the uncertainties, the young mother is gradually resuming her activities. She campaigns for better awareness of brain tumors and encourages everyone to listen to their body. “My symptoms are gone and I feel like I did ten years ago”she says. A sentence that sounds like a message of hope.