At 23, health and wellbeing coach Lauren Boon was on the path to recovery from anorexia. When her face and head started to feel numb, she assumed it was tied to her eating disorder. Months later, doctors told her the real cause: a slow-growing brain tumor.
Lauren’s story highlights how vague symptoms can sometimes point to serious conditions. Here, we’ll look at how her diagnosis unfolded, what her treatment has involved, and how she’s raising awareness about brain tumors while continuing her recovery.
How she reached the brain tumor diagnosis
Lauren, from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, had struggled with anorexia as a teenager. By 2023, she had overcome the disorder but still experienced persistent facial and head numbness. She first mentioned it to doctors while under supervision for her eating disorder, but it was dismissed as something they hadn’t seen linked to anorexia. Believing it might be due to low blood pressure or low heart rate, she carried on.
When the symptoms didn’t go away, she visited her GP. Initial thoughts included a trapped nerve near her jaw or another neurological issue. She was referred for an MRI in February 2023. The scan revealed a lesion in her brain. Lauren knew from her psychology degree that this was a serious finding.
A second MRI in April suggested the growth was benign, but by December, doctors recommended surgery. A biopsy after her craniotomy in January 2024 confirmed it was a grade 2 astrocytoma, a rare and slow-growing brain tumor.
Treatment and recovery challenges
Her medical team chose to avoid radiotherapy due to her age, aiming to reduce long-term side effects. After the operation, she recovered well but continued to deal with occasional fatigue.
A follow-up scan showed what could be residual tumor tissue. Because the remaining mass is near the motor strip of her brain, a second surgery may require her to be awake so doctors can monitor her movement during the procedure. While she waited for another scan to confirm the next step, Lauren continued to focus on her life and advocacy work.
Despite her health challenges, she managed to complete her master’s in eating disorders and clinical nutrition at University College London in May 2024, just months after surgery. She shares her journey on TikTok under @diaryoflaurenx, posting about her appointments, scans, and treatments. This openness has connected her with others who have experienced brain tumors and helped her raise awareness about the condition.
In May, only three months after surgery, Lauren completed a 200km fundraising challenge for Brain Tumour Research. She has been vocal about the need for more funding, pointing out that brain tumors receive only 1% of the UK’s national cancer research budget. For her, early detection and better treatment options depend on increased investment and awareness.
Despite the uncertainty of her situation, Lauren is determined to keep moving forward. Her story shows that even symptoms that seem minor or unrelated can sometimes point to serious health issues, which is why it’s so important to notice them and consult a healthcare provider whenever there’s any doubt.
