Teacher diagnosed with brain tumor after misattribution of headaches to contraceptive pill
A Macclesfield PE teacher’s headaches were initially blamed on birth-control pills, but an optic nerve mass led to a brain-tumor diagnosis and a years-long treatment journey.
A teacher from Macclesfield, Cheshire, was diagnosed with a brain tumor after doctors initially attributed her headaches to the contraceptive pill. Holly Worswick, 26, a physical education teacher, began experiencing headaches and intermittent vision changes in February 2021. Her when she visited a GP, she was told the symptoms were linked to the contraceptive pill, and she was switched to another formulation rather than investigated further. The persistent symptoms prompted a visit to her optician, who referred her for urgent imaging.
On February 14, 2021, an OCT scan revealed a mass the size of a grapefruit on her right optic nerve. She was promptly sent to Macclesfield District General Hospital for further evaluation. An MRI and CT scan confirmed a brain tumor, and she underwent a biopsy that indicated a grade 1 benign meningioma. Doctors advised monitoring the tumor’s growth rather than immediate removal due to its location. Holly described the moment she learned of the diagnosis as overwhelming: “That is when it hit me, I was like ‘Oh my gosh.’” Her care pathway soon moved to Manchester Royal Eye Hospital and Salford Royal Hospital for additional testing and planning for surgery.
The initial operation occurred the day after the transfer for biopsy and imaging, but her tumor could not be fully removed because of its position near critical structures. An infection developed, necessitating a second operation within days. Within a month, she returned to hospital to have part of her skull removed after the infection. In July 2021, a titanium plate was fitted to replace the removed bone, a component later replaced with a biocompatible material. Despite these efforts, the tumor regrew, and a CT scan in November 2021 showed regrowth.
Holly underwent a total of six brain surgeries over the following years to manage the tumor and symptoms, with ongoing scans to monitor growth. The timeline included a fourth brain surgery in January 2022 after additional testing confirmed regrowth and a fifth operation in February 2024 to remove the tumor, followed by six weeks of targeted proton beam therapy. In early 2025, she began experiencing hearing difficulties, and doctors confirmed the tumor had grown again. A sixth operation took place in July 2025 near the ear canal, where part of the ear structure had to be removed to control the tumor’s spread. The procedure left Holly with partial deafness in her right ear. She will now undergo MRI scans every six months for life to monitor the tumor’s growth.
Images below illustrate moments from the early phase of Holly’s journey, including the concerned GP visit that preceded her diagnosis and the urgent care pathway that followed. 
Despite the gravity of the diagnosis and the demanding treatment path, Holly has remained active in her community and advocacy work. She applied to take part in this year’s Miss England pageant, scheduled for October 3, 2025, with the aim of raising awareness about brain tumors and the reality of life after diagnosis. She said the pageant is about more than appearance; it is about her story and her community work.
The Brain Tumor Charity, which supports patients and families affected by brain tumors, noted the importance of sharing personal experiences to raise awareness and encourage others to seek timely care. Shannon Winslade, Head of Services at the charity, expressed gratitude for those who share their stories and highlighted the availability of support services for families navigating diagnosis and treatment. Holly’s case underscores the potential for initial symptoms to be misattributed and the need for thorough evaluation of persistent headaches and vision changes.
As Holly continues regular monitoring and adjusting to the long-term effects of treatment, her story draws attention to the broader health issue of brain tumors, their diagnosis, and the impact on patients’ lives. Medical professionals emphasize that while some brain tumors are benign, they can still require complex and lifelong management, including repeated imaging, surgeries, and targeted therapies. The emphasis remains on early detection, accurate diagnosis, and comprehensive survivorship care.