One mother told how a hunch led her to discover that her son’s “tiredness” and “bad mood” after school was actually something much more serious.
Eight-year-old Mason MacKenzie usually felt exhausted, but it wasn’t until 27-year-old Carly took him to hospital that something shocking was found.
Mum Carly, a domestic abuse practitioner from East Lothian, Scotland, went with Mason to the optician for her annual eye test.
There he told the surgery that his son had been suffering from mild headaches, as well as feeling tired and cranky at the end of the day, and it was then suggested that he should take Mason to the GP.
But after a “gut feeling,” Carly took Mason to the hospital, where an MRI revealed a shocking discovery.
Mason MacKenzie with mom Carly MacKenzie. Carly, a domestic abuse practitioner from East Lothian, Scotland, went with Mason to the optician for her annual eye exam.
Mason MacKenzie before cancer. Carly reported to the optician that her son had been suffering from minor headaches, as well as feeling tired and cranky at the end of the day.
Just two days after the scan, Mason was found to have an early-stage cancerous tumor on the left side of his brain, about the size of a grape.
Fortunately, Mason’s prognosis is good, as doctors managed to remove it early, but they say they would be telling a “very different story” if it weren’t for the eye exam.
Carly said: “A lot of people have asked me about Mason’s early 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 had surgery and received his treatment.
“But his doctors have said that if we had waited a couple more weeks, we would be telling a very different story.”
When Carly took Mason to the optician in January, his test came back normal.
The optician routinely asked him if he had experienced any headaches, eyestrain or dizziness.
Mason in the hospital with his mother. It was when Carly decided to call the GP for advice that she was told “maybe I’ll take him to the hospital”.
Carly told Mason’s doctor about her headaches and tiredness at the end of the day and they suggested an MRI.
Carly said: ‘A brain tumor didn’t cross my mind, I don’t even know what I was thinking’ as she reflected on the news
Carly let him know that Mason had experienced some minor headaches, but because of his autism spectrum disorder (ASD), she believed the cause was sensory overload.
The mother added: “He told us to maybe keep an eye on him.”
‘They told me to bookmark it the next time I was at the GP with Mason.
“The truth is that he went through all the checks at the optician. He was healthy and well.”
Weeks later, however, Mason woke up with “a really sore neck.”
He complained to Carly about it, which raised alarm bells because she said she has a high pain tolerance.
Carly decided to call the GP for advice and was told “maybe I’d take him to the hospital”.
Mason MacKenzie in the hospital. Mason underwent the scan in March and two days later Carly received a call from the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh and was told to come straight away.
Upon receiving 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 tell him he’ll never need treatment again, but it’s good for him to go now.”
She said: ‘We went to A&E and they gave him ibuprofen.
They were already saying goodbye when it occurred to me to talk about the optician.
Carly told Mason’s doctor about her headaches and tiredness at the end of the day.
She emphasized that she was not worried, thinking it was due to her ASD.
But the doctor ordered an MRI for children, just to be sure.
Mason underwent the scan in March and two days later Carly received a call from the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh and was told to come straight away.
She said: ‘A brain tumor didn’t cross my mind, I don’t even know what I was thinking.
“I called my mom, Amanda, and said, ‘You have to come with us.’
‘We picked Mason up from school and, due to his ASD, he was upset that this wasn’t part of the plan.
Carly and her mother Amanda were told that Mason had a 3cm by 2cm tumor on the left side of his brain.
On March 20, 2024, doctors successfully removed all of Mason’s tumor, and eight days later, they told the family it had been cancerous.
“To make matters 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 tumor on the left side of his brain.
The only “realistic” way to perform a biopsy would be to do it at the same time as the removal surgery.
On March 20, 2024, doctors successfully removed all of Mason’s tumor, and eight days later, they told the family it had been cancerous.
“Mason woke up the day after surgery,” Carly said.
“He was really struggling for the first two days, but on the third day, he made a big turn for the better.
“On the fifth day they discharged us, after they predicted that he would need to be hospitalized for about two months.”
Carly said, “He was really struggling for the first two days, but on the third day, he took a big turn for the better.”
Mason has received six rounds of three types of chemotherapy, over six months, which he completed in October.
Mason will have no treatment and will be in remission by Christmas, but Carly must keep an eye out for any signs of relapse.
Mason received six rounds of three types of chemotherapy, over six months, which he completed in October.
She’ll be treatment-free and in remission by Christmas, but Carly must keep an eye out for any signs of relapse.
She said: “He will stop receiving treatment in November and December – then another scan will be done after Christmas to see if there is another growth.”
“I can’t lie to Mason and tell him he’ll never need treatment again, but it’s good for him to go now.
“I don’t like to say he’s cancer-free, but we’re seeing how this goes.”
“During our end-of-treatment meeting, Mason’s oncologist said the appointment with his optician saved his life.”