'Doctors uncovered the devastating reason I kept mistaking my daughter for my sister'
11.10.2023 - 15:17
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A woman who kept mistaking her daughter for her sister was diagnosed with a brain tumour the size of a lemon - which doctors believe had been growing for two decades.
Sorrall Dovey, 52, a retired nurse, was told she had the mass when she was 43 after she experienced migraines, numbness and started to mistake her daughter, Morgan, 24, as her sister, Frances. Doctors suspected that the tumour - which was approximately eight centimetres - had been growing since Sorrall was in her early 20s.
Sorrall had surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible but tumour returned four years later in December 2016. She had another operation to remove the tumour in 2017 and has defied the odds to surpass the four-year prognosis she was given.
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Sorell's daughter Morgan, a researcher, from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, said: "It was a devastating blow. We knew there was a high possibility of it returning, but we didn’t think it would happen so quickly. Mum bravely had treatment in 2017, and there have been no signs of growth since.
"She has now surpassed the four-year prognosis we were given post-treatment and defied all odds - she’s an inspiration to me.”
Sorrall's cancer was originally diagnosed in 2012 after doctors spotted a lemon-sized tumour behind her left eye. After having it removed, the tumour returned four years later in 2016 and Sorrall was given a four-year prognosis.
Morgan said: "Mum had terrible migraines that would leave her bedridden for days. She also experienced numbness in her right eye and hand, and pain in her neck. The symptoms progressed to memory problems. She began calling me ‘Frances’ - the name of her sister.