Picture by Matthew Horwood/Getty Photographs and Kelsey Stokstad / SWNS
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Kelsey Stokstad, a 32-year-old mother from Madison, Wisconsin, was tragically identified with Grade 3 astrocytoma mind most cancers after docs repeatedly dismissed the extreme tingling and numbness in her arm as nothing greater than anxiousness, in keeping with the NY Publish. This case is extremely irritating and highlights why individuals, particularly girls, must advocate fiercely for themselves after they really feel like one thing critical is being neglected by medical professionals.
Stokstad first began experiencing numbness and tingling in her left hand and arm. She informed reporters that the sensation was “very unnerving” and he or she initially suspected it is likely to be heart-related, prompting a visit to the emergency room. Nevertheless, the signs stopped as soon as she arrived, which made the scenario complicated for the docs on employees.
Sadly, the medical crew determined the difficulty was psychological somewhat than bodily, very similar to the case of deadly misdiagnosis we not too long ago reported about. They concluded it was anxiety-related and despatched her house with a prescription for Beta blockers. Stokstad strongly feels it is a frequent misdiagnosis for ladies. Unsurprisingly, the Beta blockers didn’t do something to handle the basis trigger, and the numbness and tingling continued to persist.
The signs didn’t simply stick round; they escalated over the subsequent 4 months
By August 2023, Stokstad seen the numbness was beginning to transfer towards her leg. She was working alone and speaking on the telephone together with her husband, Sean, a 33-year-old enterprise advisor, when all the things went darkish.
“The subsequent factor I knew, I used to be on the ground,” she recalled. Stokstad had suffered a grand mal seizure, a terrifying occasion involving an entire lack of consciousness and violent muscle contractions. Sean was screaming her identify over the telephone for what will need to have been 5 minutes earlier than she lastly got here round, utterly confused.
Sean instantly drove his spouse to Meriter Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin. A subsequent CAT scan revealed a regarding 4cm mass on her mind. Docs rapidly confirmed the severity of the scenario and admitted her for quick surgical procedure. It was solely then that they realized the tingling and numbness she had been experiencing weren’t anxiousness assaults in any respect; these have been small seizures. Stokstad stated the tumor had grown massive sufficient that it was urgent straight on her mind.
Only a few days later, on August 17, 2023, docs carried out a craniotomy and have been in a position to efficiently take away 98 % of the tumor, which Stokstad rightly known as “unbelievable.” The official prognosis got here in September 2023: a cancerous mind tumor recognized as a Grade 3 astrocytoma. Most cancers isn’t a uncommon phenomenon within the US, with even the EPA permitting carcinogenic pesticides, however this was nonetheless a shocker.
Initially, the prognosis was grim, estimating she had solely three to 5 years left. Nevertheless, an extra biopsy introduced some much-needed aid. The tumor had an IDH1 mutation, which fortunately means the most cancers is much less aggressive and slower rising. This mutation pushed her prognosis as much as 12 to fifteen years. “After they informed us that, we have been so joyful.”
Stokstad completed her rigorous remedy schedule of 33 rounds of radiotherapy and 12 rounds of chemotherapy in January 2025. Since finishing remedy, her scans have been secure, though she now wants MRI scans each 4 months.
