Super-fit footballer, 24, receives shock diagnosis of brain cancer after bizarre symptoms

A professional footballer has revealed the strange and harmless sign that she had a fatal brain tumour.

Amy Carr, from Hemel Hempstead, Bedfordshire, suddenly collapsed in her bedroom aged 24 after seeing a spider.

But paramedics, who were called to her home, wrongly told the former England footballer that the episode was caused by her fear of seeing the eight-legged creature.

It was only after the now 33-year-old blacked out twice again at the gym that she sought further medical attention.

An MRI scan showed she had a tumor the size of a golf ball in her brain.

Despite successful surgery to remove the growth, the surgery left her unable to walk or even talk for eight days.

When she was able to speak again, the personal trainer was temporarily able to communicate only using her GCSE French that she had learned years earlier.

Mrs Carr, who played professional football in Norway at the time, is now in remission after chemotherapy, radiotherapy and extensive physiotherapy.

But paramedics, who were called to her home, wrongly told the former England footballer that the episode was caused by her fear of seeing the eight-legged creature.

Recalling her terrifying ordeal, she said: ‘I’ve never reacted like that (the spider) to anything before.

‘I knew I didn’t like spiders, but blacking out seemed like an extreme reaction; Normally I wouldn’t faint if I saw one.’

She added: ‘I knew the risks of surgery, I was warned I could die or suffer life-changing injuries. I couldn’t walk or talk for a week.

‘The first time I spoke was in response to the nurses asking how I was doing.

‘I replied with my GCSE grade C French from comme ci, comme ça (so-so).

‘Everyone was stunned; I think my French finally came in handy.

‘The next day I spoke English again.’

Brain tumors are the biggest cancer killer among children and adults under 40

It was only after the now 33-year-old blacked out twice again at the gym that she sought further medical attention. An MRI scan showed she had a tumor the size of a golf ball in her brain

After her diagnosis. Ms Carr said surgeons told her she had a 5 per cent chance of dying from the tumour. The surgery also had a 45 percent chance of leaving her paralyzed and a 45 percent chance of a full recovery, she said.

It is estimated that at least a million Americans and 88,000 Britons are living with a cancerous brain tumor.

In Britain, more than 12,000 people are diagnosed every year – around 33 per day.

But every year, more than 5,300 people lose their lives to a brain tumor.

They reduce life expectancy by an average of 27 years – the highest of all cancers – according to The Brain Tumor Charity, with only 12 percent of adults surviving five years after diagnosis.

Common symptoms include headaches, vision changes, seizures, nausea and dizziness, fatigue, and loss of taste and smell.

However, many symptoms can also be caused by other diseases, making tumors more difficult to recognize.

After her diagnosis. Ms Carr said surgeons told her she had a 5 per cent chance of dying from the tumour.

The surgery also had a 45 percent chance of leaving her paralyzed and a 45 percent chance of a full recovery, she said.

She said: ‘When it came to radiotherapy and chemo, nothing could prepare me for the brutality of it.

‘In the beginning I threw up 27 times in two days. It got better, but it was hard.”

The tumor also caused changes in her personality and coordination, she added.

‘I am definitely more direct now and have to think more about what I say. “I also get a lot more tired than I used to,” she said.

‘I used to be able to kick a ball and throw it from the goal to the halfway line, but now that is no longer possible.’