I thought I was heading for the menopause…but my symptoms were really a sign of brain cancer

A mother-of-one who blamed her brain fog and memory lapses on the menopause has told of her devastation at being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour. 

Jane Roberts, 46, began experiencing confusion and forgetfulness earlier this year, but assumed it was a harmless symptom of perimenopause.

She mentioned the issues during a GP appointment—only for her doctor to raise concerns it could be early-onset dementia.

A CT scan soon revealed the real cause: a malignant brain tumour. On March 21, 2025, Jane was diagnosed with a glioma.

The standard treatment for this type of cancer is surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

But in Jane’s case, a follow-up scan showed the mass was located in her thalamus—deep in the centre of her brain—making it inoperable.

The mother-of-one, from Liverpool, is now awaiting the results of an MRI scan to determine how advanced the cancer is.

She has since begun sharing her story on TikTok in a bid to raise awareness, with some videos racking up more than 100,000 views.

Jane hopes her experience will encourage others not to dismiss unusual symptoms, no matter how minor they seem.

In a video, Jane explained how the ordeal began: ‘I went to the GP with what I thought were perimenopause symptoms—part of that was a bit of brain fog and memory loss.

‘She jumped on it straight away. The GP was so concerned by what I said about my memory that she thought I had early-onset dementia.’

But after referring her for a CT scan, her doctor delivered the devastating news: it wasn’t dementia—it was a ‘nasty brain tumour’.

While Jane is still waiting for an MRI to confirm how advanced the cancer is, the tumour is located deep in the brain’s thalamus—described by doctors as the ‘central system where everything goes in and out’.

Even after seeking a second opinion at the renowned Cleveland Clinic, she was told surgery was not an option.

In a more recent update, she told followers: ‘I’m waiting for my next scan towards the end of June to see how it’s progressing—whether it’s grown or stopped.

‘All the next steps—biopsy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy—carry a risk because of where the tumour is.’

Her 10-year-old daughter has even given the tumour a nickname—’Betty’—after the pair had a heartbreaking conversation about her diagnosis.

Gliomas are brain tumours that form in the glial cells—supportive cells that surround and protect nerve cells in the brain.

Around 2,500 people are diagnosed with gliomas in the UK each year, with about 24,000 cases annually in the US. 

They make up roughly a quarter of all brain tumours and can range from slow-growing to aggressive, fast-growing forms.

Symptoms vary depending on where the tumour is, but can include headaches, memory loss, seizures and changes in mood or behaviour. 

when a glioma is inoperable—because it’s located deep in the brain or near vital structures—doctors may focus on shrinking or slowing its growth instead. 

This is typically done with targeted radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which can help relieve symptoms and extend survival, but is rarely curative. 

In some cases, patients may also be offered palliative care to manage symptoms and maintain quality of life. 

In a video posted last week, Jane shared that ‘waiting is the hardest part’ as she continues to hope for an update.

In an Instagram post, she added: ‘Doing nothing is a really tough spot to be in. It’s a completely mental game. A weird kind of torture.

‘You might die, you might not, but you probably will—but we can’t be sure when, it might be soon.’

In another video, filmed just days after she was told the tumour was inoperable, she said: ‘I’ve woken up feeling really sad today.

‘It is the reality. I don’t know enough. I don’t know if radio and chemo can fully remove it or if this is just going to be a case of shrinking it.

‘Then it is going to grow again, then we’re doing this and this is just going to be my life until it gets me. It’s just hard to stay really strong.’

Despite everything, Jane has been trying to remain positive—sharing her thoughts and feelings in regular updates.

In a post from a week ago, she wrote: ‘It takes all my energy to keep fighting the negative thoughts and the messages of Mr Doom and Gloom (my surgeon) continually echo in my ears. It’s such a battle to stay happy or even neutral.’

‘But I do know that whilst Betty (yes we named my tumour) is here to stay at least for now that I am capable of being happy throughout this shit show. So going to try and embrace the lows as they will propel me to the highs.’

In her most recent Instagram post, she said she is appreciating the little things like going to a hair appointment.

‘I just assumed I’d start treatment and lose my hair and it would all happen so quickly. 

‘But I’m a few hair appointments in now and brave enough to book another in 6 weeks,’ she wrote in the caption.