WHEN Lauren Ayres’ boobs ballooned three sizes in just a few weeks, she didn’t think much of it.
“I got [my breasts] measured back in January and I bought all new bras and literally I was falling out of them,” the 28-year-old communications specialist, said.
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“I didn’t fit and it was so baffling.”
Lauren jumped from a 30E to a 32G, skipping cup sizes F and FF.
Even when she started experiencing daily headaches, irregular menstrual cycles and extreme tiredness, she assumed it was down to hormone changes and didn’t think it was “serious enough” to see a doctor.
Lauren, who also has endometriosis, said she was used to health problems being dismissed and thought her symptoms would pass.
“I was just chalking it down to hormone issues but I didn’t know how bad it was,” she said.
But a routine blood test in July revealed her prolactin, a hormone produced by the pituitary gland, was four times higher than normal.
An MRI later showed a cyst on her pituitary gland, the pea-sized gland at the base of the brain which controls many of the body’s hormones.
Lauren said: “I would never have thought it would turn out to be a brain cyst.
“Some things were changing from six months ago but they weren’t things I’d necessarily go to the doctors for.”
The test showed the growth on her pituitary gland measured 14mm by 12mm.
This, she said, explained both her irregular cycle and her rapid chest growth.
A brain cyst is a fluid-filled sac which, while usually benign, can still cause serious problems if it presses on vital areas.
“I’d put on a little bit of weight but not for my cup size to go up by that much,” Lauren added.
“It was quite a shock when [the MRI] came back. I didn’t even think it would genuinely be [a brain cyst],” she said.
“Although it doesn’t sound massive it’s still a growth in your brain that’s pushing on it and causing some problems.”
Doctors believe the cyst is benign, but Lauren is waiting for more blood tests, vision checks and an endocrinology appointment to make sure it isn’t cancerous.
She added: “I’m so relieved they found it when they did. If it’s your cycle changing or if you’re noticing anything slightly different just go to the doctor to get it checked out.
“Sometimes it feels like a fight to be seen or to be taken as seriously as we should but it’s definitely worth getting your blood checked and ask for prolactin levels.”
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What is a brain cyst
A brain cyst is a fluid-filled sac, a bit like a balloon filled with water, that forms inside the brain.
Most cysts are benign (non-cancerous), but they can still cause problems if they press on parts of the brain that control vital functions.
They are usually picked up on a CT or MRI scan and can trigger symptoms such as headaches, vision changes, tiredness, hormone problems or seizures, depending on where they sit.
Treatment depends on the size and location.
Some cysts are simply monitored, while others may need surgery or a shunt to drain fluid.
Source: American Brain Tumour Association
