Jessica Buck British estate agent with prolactinoma Country: Great Britain

Content:

1. A British Estate Agent with a Pituitary Tumor
2. The Diagnosis: Prolactinoma
3. Unwelcome Symptoms
4. Seeking Answers
5. Treatment Options
6. Medical Intervention
7. Concerns for the Future
8. Living with Prolactinoma
9. Understanding Pituitary Tumors
10. Prolactinomas are benign, slow-growing tumors of the pituitary gland.

A British Estate Agent with a Pituitary Tumor

A Frightening Discovery

At just 18 years old, Jessica Buck noticed a frightening symptom: milk leaking from her breasts. She initially suspected pregnancy but soon realized that this "lactating" was a sign of a much more serious threat lurking within her brain...

The Diagnosis: Prolactinoma

In late 2011, shortly after turning 18, Jessica Buck was diagnosed with a prolactinoma, a tumor on her pituitary gland at the base of her brain. This growth caused an overproduction of prolactin, a hormone responsible for stimulating milk production after childbirth.

Unwelcome Symptoms

As a teenager, Jessica experienced a constellation of debilitating symptoms, including fatigue, dizziness, and headaches. However, it was the milky fluid seeping from her breasts that alarmed the Carterton, Oxfordshire native.

"I had to resort to wearing pads in my bra," says Jessica. "I was working as a sales assistant and kept thinking, 'Oh no, my bra's wet.'"

Seeking Answers

Confused and embarrassed, Jessica approached her mother with her concerns. A doctor's visit and blood tests revealed nothing, but an MRI scan at Oxford's Churchill Hospital finally identified the benign tumor on her pituitary gland.

Treatment Options

The pituitary gland, the size of a small pea, is often referred to as the "master gland" due to its role in controlling other glands. Learning about both "brain" and "tumor" in the same sentence left Jessica devastated.

"My mind went to the worst-case scenario," she recalls. "I was terrified."

Patients with prolactinomas are typically offered surgery or medication to manage symptoms and potentially reduce the tumor size. Opting to avoid brain surgery, Jessica chose medication first.

Medical Intervention

Cabergoline, a medication that blocks prolactin, was prescribed, and Jessica's symptoms soon became more manageable. While some annoyances, such as headaches and nausea, persisted, they were less frequent than before her diagnosis.

After three years on medication, Jessica attempted to cease taking it with the support of a specialist team in 2015. However, her symptoms returned, and the tumor began to grow again, necessitating the resumption of treatment.

Concerns for the Future

Although Jessica's condition is now under control, she has legitimate concerns about its future implications.

"I was told that within a few months of diagnosis that prolactinomas can cause fertility problems," she explains.

"I was so young when I got it that I wasn't thinking about having children, but I've never discounted becoming a mother. It's something that's important to me."

"I've since been told that it's not until you try to get pregnant that they can tell you. My research and speaking to others with my condition, there have been women with prolactinomas that have gone on to have children, which is great."

Living with Prolactinoma

Jessica is determined not to let her health condition define her. She remains fiercely proactive in maximizing her life experiences.

Last year, Jessica quit her estate agent job and embarked on a global adventure.

"I quit my job last summer and it was the best thing I've ever done," she says. "I spent a month traveling around the States by myself, doing all the adrenaline things like white-water rafting in Colorado, a helicopter tour over the Grand Canyon, and speedboating in Miami."

"There were days when I felt rough, but the adrenaline kept me going. I've been to Europe this year too. Now I only have to come home for my hospital appointments."

"I document it all on my blog. I'm aiming to visit 25 countries before I turn 25."

Jessica has recently become an ambassador for the Pituitary Foundation, a charity that provides support and information for people affected by pituitary conditions, their families, friends, and carers.

Understanding Pituitary Tumors

Pituitary tumors are the most common type of brain tumor, accounting for one in ten. They originate in the pituitary gland, a pea-sized gland situated at the base of the brain within a bony pocket.

Prolactinomas are benign, slow-growing tumors of the pituitary gland.

The pituitary gland controls many other endocrine glands in the body, including the thyroid and adrenal glands.

It also produces essential hormones such as growth hormone and prolactin, which stimulates breast milk production.

Many pituitary tumors can exist for a long time without causing any symptoms. In some cases, they will never cause any problems.

If a tumor is large, more than 10mm, it can press on the optic nerve, causing headaches and visual problems. However, most are smaller than 10mm.

The most common type of pituitary gland tumor is "non-functioning," meaning that it does not affect the glands that produce one or more hormones. Alternatively, a tumor may cause certain hormones to be overproduced.

Benign brain tumors can occur at any age but are most common in people over 50. Approximately 4,300 people in the UK are diagnosed with a brain tumor each year.

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