A mum has told of how a gut feeling led her to discover the ‘tiredness’ and ‘grumpiness’ of her son after school was in fact something far more serious.
Eight-year-old Mason MacKenzie would routinely feel exhausted but it was only when Carly, 27, took him to the hospital that something shocking was found
Mum Carly, a domestic abuse practitioner from East Lothian, Scotland, went with Mason to the opticians for his yearly eye test.
There she told the practice that her son had been suffering from minor headaches, as well as feeling tired and grumpy at the end of the day and it was then suggested that she should take Mason to the GP.
But following a ‘gut feeling’ Carly took Mason to the hospital instead where an MRI scan revealed a shocking discovery.
Mason MacKenzie with mum Carly MacKenzie. Carly, a domestic abuse practitioner from East Lothian, Scotland, went with Mason to the opticians for his yearly eye test
Mason MacKenzie before cancer. Carly flagged to the optician that her son had been suffering from minor headaches, as well as feeling tired and grumpy at the end of the day
Just two days after the scan, it was found that Mason had an early-stage, cancerous tumour on the left-hand side of his brain – about the size of a grape.
Thankfully, Mason’s prognosis is good, as doctors managed to remove it early but they say they’d be telling a ‘very different story’ if it weren’t for the eye test.
Carly said: ‘So many people have asked me about Mason’s first signs and symptoms – but the truth is, he didn’t really have any.
‘Because we managed to catch it early, Mason was strong when he went into surgery and had his treatment.
‘But his doctors have said, if we’d waited just a couple of weeks longer, we’d be telling a very different story.’
When Carly had taken Mason to the optician in January his test had come back normal.
The optician routinely asked if he’d experienced any headaches, eye strain or dizziness.
Mason in hospital with his mum. It was when Carly decided to phone the GP for advice, that she was told ‘maybe take him to hospital’
Carly told Mason’s doctor about his headaches and tiredness at the end of the day and an MRI was suggested
Carly said: ‘A brain tumour didn’t cross my mind, I don’t even know what I was thinking’ when reflecting on the news
Carly let her know that Mason had experienced some minor headaches – but due to his autism spectrum disorder (ASD), she believed sensory overload was the cause.
The mum added: ‘She told us to maybe keep an eye on it.
‘I was told to flag it when I was next at the GP with Mason.
‘To be honest, he had all the checks at the opticians – he was all healthy, all fine.’
Weeks later, however, Mason woke up with a ‘really sore neck.’
He complained to Carly about it, which raised alarm bells as she said he has a high pain tolerance.
Carly decided to phone the GP for advice, and was told to ‘maybe take him to hospital’.
Mason MacKenzie in hospital. Mason underwent the scan in March – and two days later, Carly received a call from Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and was told to come in straight away
On getting a phone call from the hospital, Carly said: ‘We picked Mason up from school – and because of his ASD, he was upset that this wasn’t part of the plan’
Carly said: ‘I can’t lie to Mason and say he’ll never need treatment again, but it’s nice for him to be off now’
She said: ‘We went to A&E, and they gave him some ibuprofen.
‘They were just sending us on our way, when I thought I’d mention the optician.’
Carly told Mason’s doctor about his headaches and tiredness at the end of the day.
She emphasised she wasn’t worried, thinking it was down to his ASD.
But the doctor ordered a child-friendly MRI, just to make sure.
Mason underwent the scan in March – and two days later, Carly received a call from Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and was told to come in straight away.
She said: ‘A brain tumour didn’t cross my mind, I don’t even know what I was thinking.
‘I phoned my mum, Amanda, and said: “You need to come with us.”
‘We picked Mason up from school – and because of his ASD, he was upset that this wasn’t part of the plan.
Carly and her mum Amanda were told that Mason had a 3cm-by-2cm tumour on the left side of his brain
On March 20, 2024, doctors managed to successfully remove the entirety of Mason’s tumour – and eight days later, the family were told that it had been cancerous
‘To make things worse, we walked into the room and there were two strangers waiting for us.’
Carly and Amanda were told that Mason had a 3cm-by-2cm tumour on the left side of his brain.
The only ‘realistic’ way to biopsy it would be to do it at the same time as the removal surgery.
On March 20, 2024, doctors managed to successfully remove the entirety of Mason’s tumour – and eight days later, the family were told that it had been cancerous.
‘Mason awoke the day after surgery,’ Carly said.
‘He was really struggling for the first two days, but on day three, he took a huge turn for the better.
‘By day five, we were discharged – after they predicted he’d need to be in for around two months.’
Carly said: ‘He was really struggling for the first two days, but on day three, he took a huge turn for the better
Mason has received six rounds of three types of chemotherapy, across six months – which he completed in October
Mason will be treatment-free and in remission over Christmas – but Carly has to keep a cautious eye on any signs of relapse
Mason has received six rounds of three types of chemotherapy, across six months – which he completed in October.
He’ll be treatment-free and in remission over Christmas – but Carly has to keep a cautious eye on any signs of relapse.
She said: ‘He’ll be off treatment in November and December – then another scan after Christmas, to see if there’s another growth.
‘I can’t lie to Mason and say he’ll never need treatment again, but it’s nice for him to be off now.
‘I don’t like to say he’s cancer-free, but we’re seeing how this bit goes.
‘During our end-of-treatment meeting, Mason’s oncologist said his optician’s appointment saved his life.’
