A MUM of three who has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour has told how an optician saved her life.

Jane Adam, 46, is still coming to terms with learning she has a three centimetres low grade meningioma on her brain stem.

The busy mum had been struggling with increasingly severe eye spasms for around two years but as the coronavirus pandemic raged on, she hadn't yet visited her GP.

Jane from Kilmacolm, was living in Paris at the time and she went for a routine eye examination in September where a local optician picked up on the problem.

She was referred for an MRI scan when she returned to the UK and was diagnosed in November.

Doctors discovered that the tumour was lying on Jane's optic nerve and had wrapped itself around the carotid artery.

The location of the meningioma makes it inoperable and significantly increases Jane's chances of having a stroke in the future.

Her only option now is to undergo gamma knife radiotherapy to shrink the tumour, which she's due to start next month.

In the months leading up to her diagnosis, Jane had been feeling tired and irritable and experienced mood swings which, unbeknownst to her, are all symptoms of the condition.

She said: "It never crossed my mind that I could have a tumour.

"The spasms had been ongoing for a couple of years and my eye had actually begun to close, which I hadn't had checked out.

"My husband and children commented on it when they saw me in photos but we just assumed that I was tired or maybe it was the flash.

"I'm very grateful to my optician.

"I honestly think she saved my life."

Alongside the gamma knife radiotherapy, Jane will have a scan every six months and regular examinations of her optic nerve, and also takes cortisone to manage swelling and inflammation.

The mum, who has three adult children, says she's very grateful to have a fantastic family around her.

She added: "My family have all been amazingly supportive.

"My husband couldn't believe what he was hearing when I told him.

"My mother was the last person I told.

"I wanted to protect her from the harsh reality of it as I knew she would be upset."

Jane has been supported along the way by the Brain Tumour Charity and plans to take on a running challenge for them when she's able to.

She would love to see the money she raises help fund campaigns to raise awareness and vital research into finding a cure.

Jane hopes that one day a treatment option will be found and her tumour will be able to be removed.

She added: "My diagnosis is a major life change and such a big blow to the system.

"Walking around with a brain tumour in your head is a crazy and colossal feeling but I just have to accept it.

"I can't do anything about it and I feel powerless.

"But laughing with friends and family has really helped me ease the pain."

*To find out more about the Brain Tumour Charity visit www.thebraintumourcharity.org