What if the symptom you’ve been brushing off for years an annoying noise in your ear, a vague sense that something feels “off” turned out to be the reason you’re still alive?
That’s exactly what happened to Paige Footner, a 30-year-old paramedic and circus performer, whose routine check on a seemingly minor health issue uncovered a brain tumor. Not because she had textbook warning signs. Not because doctors were looking for it. But because she listened to her body and followed through.
Brain tumors are rare, with only about 5 out of every 100,000 people diagnosed each year. Yet they often fly under the radar until something more serious emerges. And when symptoms do appear, they can mimic everyday issues: headaches, fatigue, or in Paige’s case, a pulsing sound in one ear.
Her story isn’t about alarmism it’s about awareness. What follows isn’t just a look at a rare diagnosis, but a reminder of why paying attention to the small stuff can make all the difference.
A Symptom Too Easy to Ignore
For four years, Paige Footner lived with a constant whooshing sound in her left ear. It was pulsatile tinnitus, a rhythmic, heartbeat-like sound in one ear that many people chalk up to stress, sinus pressure, or noise exposure. It didn’t interfere with her performances. It didn’t stop her from working shifts as a paramedic. It was annoying, but manageable. And like many people, she simply adapted.
But something told her to bring it up to her GP.
That decision turned out to be lifesaving.
Her doctor didn’t dismiss it. Tinnitus especially unilateral pulsatile tinnitus can sometimes be a red flag for more serious conditions like vascular abnormalities or tumors pressing on blood vessels. She was referred to an ENT specialist, who found signs of nerve damage on the same side as the tinnitus. While the working theory was a minor head injury from circus training, the ENT recommended an MRI to be sure.
Paige booked the scan. Not because she feared the worst, but because she wanted to be thorough.
The result was a shock: a four-centimeter tumor growing in the posterior right frontal lobe of her brain. Ironically, the tumor had nothing to do with her ear. It was an incidental finding completely unrelated to the tinnitus that brought her in.
“I was so lucky,” she said. “The tumor wasn’t causing symptoms. So in a way, circus saved my life.”
Cases like Paige’s highlight something many people overlook: persistent symptoms even ones that seem minor shouldn’t be brushed off, especially when they change or linger. Tinnitus, in most cases, isn’t dangerous. But it’s one of those symptoms that sits on the fence between harmless and significant. And if it hadn’t been for her willingness to speak up and follow through, her tumor might have gone undetected until it became much harder to treat.
What Is a Brain Tumor And Why It Matters Even If It’s Benign
The word “tumor” is often misunderstood especially when paired with the word “benign.” While “benign” means non-cancerous, it doesn’t mean harmless. When it comes to the brain, even a slow-growing tumor can be dangerous simply because of the space it occupies.
A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of cells inside the brain or the structures surrounding it. These growths can be either primary (originating in the brain) or secondary (spreading to the brain from cancer elsewhere in the body). There are over 150 known types of brain tumors, each with different behaviors and risks. Some are aggressive and fast-growing. Others grow slowly and may never cause symptoms. But size and speed aren’t the only concerns the location of the tumor often matters more.
The brain is enclosed in the skull, a rigid structure with no extra room. A tumor pressing on critical areas like those that control vision, speech, or movement can lead to serious symptoms even if the tumor itself is non-cancerous. These include memory issues, seizures, loss of coordination, and personality changes, depending on the area affected.
In Paige Footner’s case, her tumor was suspected to be a meningioma a type of tumor that develops in the protective layers covering the brain and spinal cord. Meningiomas are usually benign and slow-growing, but they can still cause complications depending on their size and location. There are also different grades of meningiomas, and doctors can’t always determine how aggressive one is until it’s removed and analyzed in a lab.
What makes Paige’s case unusual is that her tumor was completely asymptomatic, a rare scenario that highlights how silent some brain tumors can be. She had no headaches, vision problems, or neurological changes. The tumor was large enough to be dangerous but hadn’t yet started pressing on any vital tissue.
That’s why catching it early even by accident was so critical.
Diagnosing the Invisible: Why Imaging Matters
In Paige Footner’s case, it was an MRI scan that made the invisible visible. After years of tinnitus and a recent ENT referral, her doctor suggested imaging not because they suspected a tumor, but to rule out structural causes for her ear symptoms. That scan unexpectedly revealed a four-centimeter tumor in her right frontal lobe, unrelated to her tinnitus but potentially life-altering if left undetected.
This kind of unexpected finding isn’t rare. It’s called an incidental finding, a condition discovered while investigating something else. In neurology, incidental brain tumors can show up during imaging for unrelated reasons like chronic headaches, dizziness, or even after a concussion.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is the go-to scan for this kind of detection. Unlike X-rays or CT scans, MRI provides detailed images of soft tissue, making it particularly effective at spotting abnormal growths in the brain. It can show not just that a mass exists, but where it is, how big it is, and whether it appears aggressive. When needed, doctors may follow up with a PET scan, biopsy, or even a spinal tap to gather more details.
In some cases, early detection changes everything. Tumors found before they cause symptoms are often easier to treat and less likely to leave lasting damage. But the opposite is also true: by the time symptoms become noticeable such as seizures, memory problems, or vision loss the tumor may have already grown or spread.
It’s important to understand that not every headache or strange sensation calls for a scan. But when symptoms are persistent, one-sided, or progressively worse, they warrant a closer look. And in Paige’s case, the decision to push for an MRI wasn’t dramatic or based on fear it was about being thorough.
Imaging may not offer all the answers right away. Even after seeing the tumor, Paige’s medical team had to wait until surgery and biopsy to determine its exact nature. But without that initial scan, she might have gone on performing high-impact routines with a growing mass in her brain completely unaware.
The Human Cost of a Brain Tumor Diagnosis
A brain tumor diagnosis doesn’t just affect your health it rewires your life in an instant. For Paige Footner, the shock of discovering a tumor came just weeks before she was set to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, an event she had trained for obsessively and invested in heavily. Flights were booked. Costs were charged to her credit card. Performances scheduled. She hadn’t even purchased travel insurance yet.
Everything stopped with one MRI result.
In a matter of days, her calendar went from rehearsals and travel plans to surgery consults, PET scans, and questions no one could immediately answer like whether her tumor was benign or something more aggressive. While doctors suspected a meningioma, certain features raised enough concern that a biopsy was needed to be sure. That meant surgery was not optional.
And surgery meant consequences.
Because of post-operative driving restrictions, Paige would be unable to work as a paramedic for at least six months half a year of lost income from one of her two jobs. Performing as a circus artist was also out of the question, both physically and financially. The debt she racked up preparing for the international trip didn’t disappear just because the trip did. And the cost of surgery, imaging, and follow-up care added another layer of financial strain.
Beyond the logistics, the emotional toll was brutal. “I felt vulnerable and scared and weak,” she said. “And that’s so far from how I normally see myself.” In circus performance, fear is something you train through. You overcome it with repetition, grit, and mental focus. But this wasn’t a trick she could master. It was her body turning against her in a way she couldn’t control.
One of the hardest realizations? How many things she thought she had time for were suddenly in question. “My first thought when they told me was, ‘I’m going to die, and I’ve never been in love,’” she shared. “Every little girl dreams of finding true love, and I just thought… that might never happen for me.”
These are the stakes that don’t show up in a scan. The relationships not started, the dreams postponed, the work put on hold. A brain tumor diagnosis often comes with uncertainty not just about survival, but about identity, independence, and whether life will ever return to “normal.”
For Paige, a turning point came when she allowed her story to be shared. The outpouring of support from friends, coworkers, and complete strangers helped reframe what had felt like an isolating, powerless experience. “I didn’t know how much of a difference I’d made in people’s lives until now,” she said. “I guess I’ve achieved my purpose in life.”
Listening to Your Body
Paige Footner’s story is a powerful reminder that your body often sends signals long before something serious happens. The challenge is recognizing which signals deserve attention and acting on them. You don’t need medical training to take your health seriously. What you do need is awareness, consistency, and a willingness to speak up. Here are practical, grounded tips for tuning in to your body and advocating for yourself if something feels off:
1. Don’t Dismiss Persistent Symptoms
Tinnitus, fatigue, headaches, dizziness these are common and often harmless. But if a symptom:
- Only occurs on one side (like Paige’s unilateral tinnitus),
- Lasts longer than a few weeks,
- Changes in intensity or frequency,
- Interferes with your daily routine,
…it’s time to bring it up with your doctor. Mention when it started, how often it happens, and what makes it better or worse. Specifics matter.
2. Keep Track of Your Symptoms
It’s easy to forget details during a doctor’s appointment. Keeping a simple symptom journal—just a few lines per day can help you notice patterns and provide your doctor with concrete information.
3. Don’t Minimize What You’re Feeling
Many people delay care because they think they’re overreacting or worry about wasting their doctor’s time. Paige brought up her symptom during a routine appointment. That conversation led to a life-saving diagnosis. If something feels off, say so.
4. Follow Through with Referrals and Imaging
If your doctor recommends a specialist or an MRI, take it seriously. It’s easy to delay tests when you’re busy or when symptoms don’t feel urgent but delays can close the window for early detection.
5. Ask Questions and Get a Second Opinion If You Need To
You’re allowed to ask what tests are being ordered and why. You can also ask what the “next step” is if tests come back normal but symptoms continue. If you’re not comfortable with the explanation you get, getting another medical opinion is completely valid and often helpful.
6. Be Honest About Your Lifestyle and Risks
Doctors can make better decisions when they understand your full context, your job, your stress level, your physical activity, and any injuries or exposures. Paige’s lifestyle as a circus artist added complexity to her case but also gave clues about possible causes. Share openly.
Trust the Signal, Not Just the Symptom
Paige Footner’s story isn’t about rare diseases or medical miracles it’s about what happens when you choose not to ignore your body. A persistent, seemingly minor symptom became the unlikely path to a life-saving diagnosis. Not because she demanded advanced testing. Not because doctors were searching for a tumor. But because she mentioned it, followed through, and stayed curious enough to ask for more information.
Most of us won’t face the exact circumstances Paige did. But everyone will face a moment when something feels “off” – a sound, a pain, a shift that doesn’t make sense. What you do with that moment matters. Do you downplay it? Push through? Or do you pause long enough to ask, “Could this be something?”
Early detection doesn’t always depend on dramatic symptoms. It often depends on being proactive when things are still quiet.
You don’t have to be a paramedic or a performer to take your health seriously. You just have to be willing to listen.
Featured Image Credits: Instagram @Paigefootner
