A US woman discovered she had a brain tumor after taking a selfie while on vacation. Megan Troutwine went to New York City eight years ago to visit her cousin Tony Martinez, who stayed in Harlem. Amid their Midtown tour, they went to Rockefeller Centre. Megan clicked a selfie on Sixth Avenue among some reflecting pools and fountains. Later, as she was going over her pictures, she became aware of the noticeable change in her eyes.
The 33-year-old Hudson, Florida native Megan recounted to The Post, “We had so much fun, just taking pictures and seeing the sites.”
Megan went to see her doctor, concerned that the change in her look was related to recent cognitive and physical concerns she had been experiencing.
She recalled, “I thought it was odd, so when I returned home, I mentioned it to my neurologist.”
Megan had an MRI after the doctor prescribed it.
She got a call on her way home telling her that her scan had shown a benign growth developing rapidly in her brain.
Troutwine shared with the news outlet that she got diagnosed with meningioma, known as the most common kind of brain tumor.
“This diagnosis, it is hard.”
Troutwine immediately began treatment at the Moffitt Cancer Centre in Tampa. She had a meningioma removed surgically, followed by another procedure that revealed a second primary brain tumor, a glioma.
Doctors at Moffitt Cancer Centre, where Troutwine currently works as a health unit coordinator, told her that the glioma would grow gradually.
Her condition would require lifelong observation.
Doctors also found that she had a mutation in the PTEN gene, which makes her more susceptible to getting cancer in the future.
Troutwine’s story recently received media attention from her local Fox station.
She disclosed that since undergoing a craniotomy in 2017 to cure a brain tumor, she has also received diagnoses and treatment for uterine and breast cancer.
Even though she had to overcome these obstacles, Troutwine told The Post that she feels lucky to have encountered some of the most sincere and motivating individuals while receiving treatment.
“Cancer was not my first choice, but I wouldn’t trade where I am or what I have gone through for anything,” she said.
Troutwine also mentioned how her present career allows her to support people during some of their most trying periods.
She views it as a blessing to be able to offer assistance to others who might not have a strong network of allies while facing comparable difficulties.
Since her first visit to New York City, Troutwine has tragically lost her cousin to pancreatic cancer.
She’s only been back to the city once, to commemorate the memories she had with him.
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