This cancer was misdiagnosed as schizophrenia for 10 years
Key Takeaways
Persistent psychiatric symptoms may mask a more sinister neurological condition, including certain cancers, such as the case of 44-year-old UK woman who was misdiagnosed with schizophrenia for over a decade.
A 44-year-old woman from the UK, Vanessa Rudden, began experiencing hallucinations and paranoia starting in her late 20s. She was diagnosed with schizophrenia and hospitalized repeatedly, and her health concerns were often dismissed by her doctors, including her belief that she had a worm in her brain.[]
The real cause of her symptoms, however, was not discovered until the final year of her life: a grade 4 glioblastoma.
The brain tumor—discovered when it was the size of a golf ball—had gone undetected for over a decade. The discovery came only after Rudden had a seizure, prompting an MRI scan. After undergoing surgery to remove most of the tumor, Rudden lived for another 10 months before passing away in October 2018.
The need for vigilance
“If only the scan had been done earlier, Vanessa might still be here,” Rudden’s sister, Georgina Doherty, shared with Daily Mail in December 2024.[]
While glioblastomas are rare, their presentations can mimic psychiatric illnesses, as seen in Rudden’s case. Hallucinations, paranoia, or other behavioral changes—often dismissed as mental illness—may warrant deeper exploration. This patient’s case can serve as a reminder about the importance of patient-centered care, where every symptom is taken seriously.
Early diagnosis can save lives—and stories like Rudden’s can motivate us all to ask, “What might we be missing?”
@imogexn Not like my usual posts but i thought id hop on this trend 🤍🥹 #chronicillnessawareness ♬ WILDFLOWER - Billie Eilish
Understanding glioblastoma
Glioblastoma is the most common type of malignant brain tumor, known for its aggressive nature and poor prognosis.[]
This type of tumor can grow rapidly and infiltrate surrounding brain tissue, often presenting with non-specific symptoms such as headaches, cognitive changes, or personality shifts.
Advanced imaging techniques, including MRI, magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), are essential tools for differentiating glioblastoma from other potential diagnoses. For example, glioblastomas typically exhibit increased choline levels and decreased N-acetylaspartate on MRS, signaling high metabolic activity consistent with malignancy. These imaging modalities can provide critical clues when conventional scans fail to reveal abnormalities or are misleading.[]
Related: 60-pound tumor misdiagnosed as obesity for over a decade until chance discoveryA similar case study
Similar cases in medical literature highlight the risks of relying on incomplete diagnostic workups. For example, another patient with glioblastoma was initially misdiagnosed with parasitic infection due to their dietary history and misleading imaging results, according to a case study published in Frontiers in Neurology.[] Only after advanced imaging and surgery was the true diagnosis revealed.
The medical community must strive for a multidisciplinary approach in challenging cases such as these. When symptoms persist or evolve, revisiting the diagnosis with a fresh perspective can make all the difference.
Behind every case is a life full of potential, waiting for the right answers. As we push for improved research and diagnostics, let Rudden’s story inspire a renewed commitment to uncovering the truth for every patient, no matter how elusive it may seem.
What this means for you
A 44-year-old UK woman, Vanessa Rudden, experienced hallucinations and paranoia starting in her late 20s, leading to a misdiagnosis of schizophrenia for over a decade; the true cause—a grade 4 glioblastoma—was discovered only after a seizure prompted an MRI. Cases like these serve as a stark reminder for the importance of patient-centered care, where every symptom is taken seriously and all diagnostic avenues are explored.