Eight years ago, Megan Troutwine, a US resident, traveled to New York City to visit her late cousin, Tony Martinez, who was living in Harlem. The two had a delightful time exploring the city, capturing memories through photographs, and soaking in the vibrant atmosphere of the streets.
During their visit to Midtown, they stopped by Rockefeller Center, where Troutwine decided to take a selfie next to the reflecting pool and the fountains on Sixth Avenue. Little did she realize that this seemingly ordinary selfie would have life-changing consequences.
How a Florida woman’s NYC selfie led to her brain tumor diagnosis https://t.co/HC6pSVwQz8 pic.twitter.com/I2r75HT45N
— New York Post Metro (@nypmetro) March 17, 2024
In a recent interview with her local Fox station, Megan Troutwine recounted her experience. She explained, “I looked at the picture, and my eyelid was drooping. I thought it was odd, so when I returned home, I mentioned it to my neurologist.”
Upon her return from vacation, she underwent an MRI scan, which unveiled a benign mass within her brain. This mass was growing aggressively.
Following her diagnosis, Troutwine commenced treatment at the Moffitt Cancer Center. She endured 23 rounds of radiation therapy, underwent an operation to excise the tumor, and faced another surgery to address additional growth.
Despite being a dedicated runner, she had to temporarily reduce her pace during recovery. Her unwavering faith provided solace during the challenging days that ensued, as reported by Fox13.
“Dealing with the cognitive issues and dealing with the memory loss and stuff like that, that was probably the hardest because I know that I’m smarter than that. I’m more capable than that. I can do more. But, it’s learning how to give myself the grace in the midst, too,” she said Speaking to Fox13.
During Troutwine’s treatment journey, Dr. Sepideh Mokhtari, a Neuro-Oncologist at the Moffitt Cancer Center, made a significant discovery. In addition to the initial benign mass, she identified another primary brain tumor—a glioma.
“It was very tiny, and as we are following it over the years, we are seeing a little bit of increase in size over time,” Dr Mokhtari said to Fox13.
“I’ve lost so many friends to glioblastoma and, you know, there’s over 40 different types of brain tumours. So, a low-grade glioma is like a blessed juxtaposition, I guess you could say, because it’s like you’re on a cliff, and you know what’s going to happen. You know it will progress. You will have to do treatment for it. You know it may very well be what could jeopardise your mortality in the future. But, you know, at the same time, you’re like waiting for it to do something.” Troutwine added.
After undergoing a craniotomy in 2017, Troutwine faced a series of health challenges. In addition to her initial diagnosis, she courageously battled uterine and breast cancer. Her journey took an unexpected turn as she transitioned from being a patient to becoming an integral part of the Moffitt Cancer Center team.
Currently, she serves as a volunteer Comfort Companion and Health Unit Coordinator, embodying resilience and compassion in her dual roles.
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