Dad, 32, put headaches down to stress before devastating diagnosis Sean thought his headaches were down to stress from work and raising a young family Sean Lowe, who was told he had a brain tumour after going for an eye test, with his family (Image: © Brain Tumour Research © SWNS ) A dad who put his headaches down to parenting stress was told he had a brain tumour after a routine check-up at the opticians. Sean Lowe, 32, started suffering from headaches in August 2024 but blamed them on work stress and the demands of raising a young family. But when Sean, originally from Merseyside, went for an eye test the optician noticed an unusual pressure behind an optic nerve. Just 30 minutes after the test, he received a call asking him to return and was referred straight to North Devon District Hospital for an MRI scan which revealed a pilocytic astrocytoma, a type of brain tumour. ‌ Just 14 days after his initial optician's appointment, Sean underwent a right frontal craniotomy to remove the tumour at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth. Now he undergoes regular scans to monitor his health and is working with Brain Tumour Research to raise awareness. Sean, who now lives in Fremington, North Devon, said: “Initially, I didn’t think much of the headaches, as they seemed to coincide with stressful periods. When the headaches persisted, my family urged me to visit my GP. “He attributed the headaches to stress and advised me to rest. Around the same time, my employer suggested I should have an eye test. I am incredibly lucky I went for an eye test, and fortunate the optician noticed something that could have been easily missed by a GP.” Article continues below Sean added: “I strongly encourage others to make eye tests a regular part of their healthcare routine. It could save your life, like it did mine." Sean Lowe in hospital after his surgery (Image: © Brain Tumour Research © SWNS ) Louise Aubrey, community development manager at Brain Tumour Research said: "Sean's story is a powerful reminder of how crucial it is to stay vigilant when it comes to your health.” ‌ “His experience highlights the importance of not dismissing seemingly minor symptoms and of seeking out professional advice when something feels off. “At Brain Tumour Research, we are constantly advocating for earlier diagnosis and increased awareness about brain tumours, which can often go undetected until it’s too late.” “We commend Sean for being proactive and sharing his journey with others, which helps us all better understand the importance of early detection and the role that eye tests can play in saving lives." ‌ What are the common symptoms of According to the NHS, everyone is an individual and symptoms may be different in different people. The symptoms described below are a generalisation of common symptoms at the various sites within the brain. An individual may experience some of these, all of these or none. Common symptoms include: ‌ Headaches: due to increased pressure in the head, these can be present irrespective of where the tumour is in the brain and will frequently be worse in the early hours of the morning and may be associated with vomiting Seizures or ‘fits’ The health service says lower grade tumours (Grades I and II) present more often with seizures or fits. The higher grade tumours (Grades III and IV) grow more rapidly and can produce a lump inside the brain in a short span of time. Since the skull cannot expand, the brain is unable to compensate for this increased mass quickly and hence the first symptoms usually are due to increased pressure in the brain. Article continues below Headaches, seizures, memory loss, and changes in behaviour are generally the most common symptoms of intrinsic (i.e. inside the brain tissue) brain tumours. Other symptoms may also occur depending on the size and location of the tumour.