A super-fit mother-of-one has revealed her anguish after doctors dismissed her dizzy spells as a common ear infection—when in fact they were caused by a brain tumour.
Retired pro-swimmer Cate Jackson, 60, initially sought help for headaches, balance problems and fatigue, and was diagnosed with labyrinthitis.
The condition—which affects the inner ear, and impacts both hearing and balance—typically gets better without treatment, after a matter of days or weeks.
A former Commonwealth athlete Mrs Jackson, who competed for Great Britain from 1981 to 1985, was initially prescribed antibiotics.
Yet Mrs Jackson, who currently races for Barnet Copthall Masters, failed to respond to the medication—and her problems worsened.
The true cause of her symptoms was finally revealed in March 2023 when scans revealed a meningioma—a tumour that grows in the membrane around the brain.
Her daughter, Isobel, 26, a mental health support-worker from Welwyn, Hertfordshire, said: ‘Mum became drained of energy and said how it felt like she needed someone to drill into the side of her head to alleviate the pressure.
‘I studied the brain during my psychology degree at university and thought something more sinister could be to blame.
Cate Jackson who was diagnosed with a brain tumour after her dizzy spells were dismissed as an ear infection
Cate Jackson and her daughter Isobel (left) and the MRI scan which revealed the tumour (right)
‘Despite mum not wanting to make a fuss, I encouraged her to go back to the GP and my fears were realised.’
After undergoing an MRI scan, Mrs Jackson was handed her diagnosis.
She had an operation to remove the lump before undergoing radiotherapy and continues to be monitored with regular scans.
What is a meningioma and how is it treated?
A meningioma is a type of tumor which starts in the layer of tissue (membranes) surrounding the brain and spinal cord, called meninges.
The symptoms can not be obvious as meningiomas usually grow slowly, but as it grows it can press on areas near the brain.
This can cause symptoms such as headaches, problems with balance, weakness in an arm or leg, changes in your eyesight.
It can also cause changes in speech or swallowing, changes in personality, being confused, seizures (fits) and sickness (vomiting).
If a meningioma is growing or causing symptoms the main treatment options are surgery and radiotherapy.
Isobel said: ‘Mum has some trouble with her cognitive processing but is living life as normal.
‘Mum’s brain tumour could be treated but I know for some people this isn’t the case.
‘Brain Tumour Research is a cause I want to support so that more potential life-saving research can be carried out to keep families together.’
Isobel completed a run across the Jurassic coast on May 17, 2025 raising over £1,000 for the charity, which is determined to find a cure for all types of brain tumours.
She said: ‘It was fantastic but very different to running in the streets.
‘I had planned to do the 100km distance but had to withdraw before as I lost body heat and couldn’t warm up and would’ve been too dangerous to continue.
‘I’m so proud of myself for how far I ran especially with the steep hills and drop.’
Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: ‘We’re incredibly grateful to Isobel for sharing her mum’s story and for taking on such a strenuous trekking challenge.
‘Cate’s story is a stark reminder that brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone at any age and around 12,000 people are diagnosed with a primary brain tumour each year.
‘We’re grateful to Isobel for helping us shine a light on this devastating disease and supporting the brain tumour community.’
About a quarter of the almost 13,000 brain tumours diagnosed in the UK each year are meningiomas, according to data from Cancer Research UK.
