A west Wales woman whose periods suddenly stopped as a teen discovered it was due to a brain tumour.

Abbie Few, 29, started what she thought was regular menstruation for two months when she was 13.

But her periods then stopped entirely for nearly seven years.

Doctors told her to take paracetamol for her headaches and eat more to help promote regular menstruation.

After many visits to her GP she was eventually referred to Withybush Hospital in 2011.

She was given contraceptive pills to promote menstruation - which failed.

Husband Mike, Maisy the dog and Abbie. See SWNS story SWMRtumour. A woman whose periods suddenly stopped as a teen discovered it was due to a brain tumour. Abbie Few, 29, started what she thought was regular menstruation for two months when she was 13. But her periods then stopped entirely for nearly seven years. Doctors told her to take paracetamol for her headaches and eat more to help promote regular menstruation.
Husband Mike, Maisy the dog and Abbie (Brain Tumour Research / SWNS)

Doctors eventually even performed an ultrasound in February 2013 to check if she had a womb.

When she was 19 she diagnosed with a walnut-sized brain tumour which was the cause of her problems.

Abbie and is now supporting Brain Tumour Research's campaign to increase research funding for the disease.

She said: “I left it a few months before going to the GP and explained about the sudden stop of my period and told them about my headaches.

"The advice I was given was to take paracetamol for my head, and eat more to help promote regular menstruation.

“By the time I was 17, I stayed on for sixth form and would turn up late and miss coursework deadlines because the pain in my head was so debilitating.

"My mum grew concerned with the amount of paracetamol I was getting through.

"She had noticed I had stopped growing and I was losing weight, raising alarm bells which prompted another GP appointment.

“My reproductive system appeared normal, so then the doctors had to consider other reasons for my headaches and lack of periods."

After she began to suffer from debilitating headaches during her A-Levels, a walnut-sized mass was later discovered on her brain just days after she turned 19.

Abbie, from Fishguard, eventually had to undergo a 10-hour operation at University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff to remove the mass, which was later identified as a craniopharyngioma.

Unfortunately, the tumour soon regrew. In 2016 Abbie was the first person from Wales to receive proton beam therapy treatment in America.

Abbie in the centre where she had proton therapy with her doctor and nurse in Florida. See SWNS story SWMRtumour. A woman whose periods suddenly stopped as a teen discovered it was due to a brain tumour. Abbie Few, 29, started what she thought was regular menstruation for two months when she was 13. But her periods then stopped entirely for nearly seven years. Doctors told her to take paracetamol for her headaches and eat more to help promote regular menstruation.
Abbie in the centre where she had proton therapy with her doctor and nurse in Florida (Brain Tumour Research / SWNS)

She added: “I was completely shocked but felt a level of relief that something had been found that could explain what was happening to my body.

“I fit the criteria with my age and brain tumour type.I received 30 rounds of proton therapy. This saved my life.”

Abbie is now campaigning alongside Brain Tumour Research to help reach 100,000 signatures on its petition to increase research funding

The group hope that they will be able to force a parliamentary debate on the issue - with brain tumour research currently accounting for just 1% of all cancer research funding.

She added: “Throughout my diagnosis I have had to deal with not only physical and mental challenges, but I’ve also had to contend with the financial side of things.

"My family and the local community were incredible at helping to support my travel and living costs throughout my treatment.

“I’m not able to return to work full time as I suffer with fatigue and have to manage my daily meds to stay alive. It’s something which has taken me years to adjust to.

"When I met Mike five years ago it really helped my confidence and made me realise life was more than being ill and taking medication forever.

“Brain tumours need to be taken more seriously which comes down to a lack of funding of research into the disease.”

Abbie Few. See SWNS story SWMRtumour. A woman whose periods suddenly stopped as a teen discovered it was due to a brain tumour. Abbie Few, 29, started what she thought was regular menstruation for two months when she was 13. But her periods then stopped entirely for nearly seven years. Doctors told her to take paracetamol for her headaches and eat more to help promote regular menstruation.
Abbie Few (Brain Tumour Research / SWNS)

Brain Tumour Research wants the Government to ring-fence £110 million of current and new funding to increase in the national investment in brain tumour research to £35 million a year by 2028.

Mel Tiley, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research, said: “We’re grateful to Abbie for sharing her story and wish her well with her future plans.

“For too long governments have put brain tumours on the ‘too difficult to think about’ pile.

"Five years after the Government announced £40 million for brain cancer research, less than £11 million has been spent.

"Patients and families continue to be let down by a funding system that is built in silos and not fit for purpose.

“If everyone can spare just a few minutes to sign and share, we will soon hit the 100,000 signatures we need and help find a cure, bringing hope to families whose loved ones have been affected by brain tumours.”

To sign and share the petition before it closes at the end of October 2023, click this link.