Girl, 11, heard of ‘silent’ brain tumor when thrill ride ‘dispelled it’ and caused symptoms – cancer discovered just in time to save her life

An 11-year-old girl’s brain cancer was discovered thanks to the violent shaking of a roller coaster that ‘dislodged’ the tumor, her mother claims.

Connie Campbell, now 13, was eventually diagnosed with the deadly brain cancer medulloblastoma after feeling ill after a ride at the amusement park.

Connie was enjoying a day out at Thorpe Park in Surrey with her family in August 2022 when she went on the rollercoaster.

Like thousands of children, Connie felt a little unwell after the experience, but her family became concerned two days later when she developed a headache and vomited.

Tests revealed the devastating news that Connie had medulloblastoma – a form of aggressive childhood brain cancer, with only around 50 cases diagnosed each year in Britain.

Connie’s mother, 54-year-old Tina Smith, from Woodford, east London, said she believes the rollercoaster ‘expelled’ the tumor in her daughter’s brain, causing the symptoms that led to a potentially life-saving earlier diagnosis.

She credits the incident with catching the disease before it spread to other parts of her daughter’s nervous system, such as her spinal cord, with survival rates dropping from 80 to 60 percent.

Mrs Smith, a personal assistant, said: ‘There’s a difference between throwing around for fun and bouncing your head off so hard you don’t feel good afterwards.

Connie Campbell was eventually diagnosed with brain cancer medulloblastoma after she felt sick after going on an amusement park ride

‘Two days later she started getting sick, which seems like too much of a coincidence for the two things not to be related.

“I suspect the rides dislodged her tumor and if that’s the case, I’m happy because I’m told we found the tumor at a good time, before the disease spread to her spine.”

Before the ride, Ms Smith said her daughter had experienced no symptoms of the growth at all.

Despite the cancer being caught early, Connie had to undergo grueling treatment.

Just two months later, she required brain surgery, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy in an attempt to eliminate the cancer.

This combination of treatments caused her to miss a year of school and also suffer developmental delays.

Now, three years after Connie’s treatment, Mrs Smith plans to raise money for the Brain Tumor Research charity by running the London Marathon with her friend this year.

She has already raised £2,000 and hopes the money raised will help other children affected by brain cancer in the future.

“So much is unknown about brain tumors and treatment is often invasive and harsh on patients, especially children,” she said.

Despite the cancer having no previous symptoms, Connie had to be caught early and still had to undergo grueling treatment

Now, three years after Connie’s diagnosis and treatment, her mother Tina Smith plans to raise money for the charity Brain Tumor Research by taking part in this year’s London Marathon.

‘To answer the questions we have, such as what caused the brain tumor, how we can stop the cancer and what other treatments are available, I will be running the London Marathon to raise awareness and much-needed funds to find these answers .’

Carol Robertson, national events manager for Brain Tumor Research, thanked the couple for their support.

She added: In Britain, 16,000 people are diagnosed with a brain tumor every year and just under 13 percent of those with a brain tumor survive for more than five years, compared to an average of 54 percent for all cancers.

‘We are committed to changing that, but only by working together can we improve treatment options for patients and ultimately a cure.

“We are very grateful for Tina and Lucy’s support and will be there to cheer her across the finish line in April.”

Mrs. Smith has one fundraising page for her marathon effort.

Medulloblastoma is the second most common form of brain tumor in children.

Although it also occurs in adults, this is very rare.

The cancer originates in the cerebellum, which is located at the back of the brain, near the brain stem.

It is considered an aggressive form of cancer that grows quickly and spreads to other parts of the brain and to the spinal cord.

A third of children with medulloblastoma in the UK are not diagnosed until the cancer has reached this more serious stage.

Medulloblastoma is usually diagnosed between the ages of three and eight, and data suggests it is more common in boys than girls.

Symptoms may include headaches in the morning, nausea or vomiting that often relieves the headache, double vision, balance problems, mood or behavior changes, and loss of appetite.