My memory blips and headaches were a tumour that deformed my skull over 15 years, says Hollyoaks actor

The Sun

2 days ago

HOLLYOAKS actor Craig Russell says he "nearly died" due to a lime-sized brain tumour that grew undetected for more than a decade and 'deformed' his skull.
The 48-year-old first noticed he was experiencing memory loss, confusion, migraines and brain fog in September 2022.
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By January 2023, Craig was "all over the place" and his wife Kate, 40, urged him to get his symptoms checked out by a GP.
Tests showed the Welsh actor, writer and producer - known for his roles in TV shows such as Hollyoaks and Netflix's Queen Cleopatra - was going blind in his left eye.
Meanwhile, a non-cancerous tumour the size of a squashed lime was found growing in his brain, so large it was 'deforming' his skull.
'It stopped me in my tracks, I never thought it would happen to me,' Craig - who lives in Falmouth, Cornwall with Kate and their two sons - said.
Doctors reckoned it could have been growing slowly for 15 years.
Craig underwent a risky operation to get rid of the mass and rebuild damaged parts of his skull in March 2023, which could have killed him or left him blind.
'There was a very real chance I wouldn't survive the operation because one little mistake and that's it, or at best I could come out blind or have a stroke," the actor said.
The actor suffered complications following the surgery but has since recovered fully and has been able to finish his latest film, Protein, that's been 10 years in the making.
'Someone asked me if I thought I'd ever see the film finished, which was a sobering idea as I nearly died before it came out,' Craig said.
'I'm so glad I was there to see it, so I just have a lot of pride for everyone involved.
Beaming Davina McCall reveals she's got all clear from brain tumour after life-saving surgery
'I feel lucky to have had a brain tumour in a way because I've learnt so much about life, people and resilience.'
In September 2022, Craig noticed he was experiencing out-of-character symptoms – such as memory loss, confusion, migraines and brain fog.
He also heard a 'whooshing' sound emerge from the back of his head when producing a scream during filming for the movie Edge of Summer, which 'nearly caused [him] to collapse'.
Craig was told by doctors that they'd "found something" in his brain after his GP visit in January 2023.
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He was referred for further MRI scans towards the end of February and the actor was told he had a large, non-cancerous tumour growing in his brain, roughly the size of a squashed lime.
Doctors suspected the tumour was a meningioma – a benign tumour that forms in the layers of tissue covering the brain and spinal cord.
This diagnosis was confirmed after his surgery.
'The tumour got so big it pushed my skull up and out, it deformed the back of my head,' Craig said.
He was told the best course of action was to surgically remove the mass, but there could be risks.
Symptoms of a benign brain tumour
A benign brain tumour is a mass of cells that grows relatively slowly in the brain.
Benign means it in not cancerous.
Non-cancerous brain tumours tend to stay in one place and do not spread.
Some slow-growing tumours may not cause any symptoms at first.
When symptoms occur, it's because the tumour is putting pressure on the brain and preventing a specific area of the brain from working properly.
As the tumour grows and increases pressure in the skull, you might experience:
New, persistent headaches that are sometimes worse in the morning or when bending over or coughing
Feeling sick all the time
Drowsiness
Vision problems, such as blurred or double vision, loss of part of your visual field and temporary vision loss
Epileptic seizures that may affect the whole body, or you may just have a twitch in one area
See a GP if you develop any of these symptoms.
They'll examine you and ask about your symptoms.
If they suspect you may have a tumour or are not sure what's causing your symptoms, they may refer you to a brain and nerve specialist for further investigation.
Source: NHS
'My surgeon explained my tumour had been growing there for about 15 years, and it appeared to have enveloped all the important stuff I needed to survive,' the actor said.
Craig's seven-hour operation on March 6 2023, at the Derriford Hospital in Plymouth involved cutting away a piece of his skull, which had become damaged by the tumour.
From there, the tumour was removed and part of his skull was rebuilt from a plastic-concrete mix, held in place by bolts, before everything was sealed with '55 staples' into his scalp.
Thankfully, the surgery was a success and the tumour was removed in its entirety.
After suffering subsequent complications with swelling and excess fluid building up on his brain, Craig said he has since made a full recovery, finding weight-lifting helped the fluid to drain naturally.
'My head still hurts occasionally but I'm now back to full health,' Craig said.
'Listen to your body'
In March 2024, Craig spoke in parliament to call on the UK Government to release more funding for research into the disease, and in September that year, he became an ambassador for Brain Tumour Research to champion for others impacted.
New treatments for meningiomas, could be on the horizon, as researchers at the University of Plymouth have identified a protein that plays a significant role in their growth, according to Brain Tumour Research.
By blocking the protein, researchers were able to slow or halt tumour cell growth in laboratory settings, unlocking the potential for new treatments, which Craig said is 'a big step forward'.
Craig's latest film, Protein, which is currently out in select cinemas, marked an emotional experience for the actor as there was a chance he may not have seen the film's release.
Protein is in select cinemas now and will be released on digital platforms from July 14.
The actor is urging others to pay attention to worrying symptoms.
'If I had truly listened to my body, this would have all been done and dusted years ago – so if you think you've got something wrong, please just go and see your doctor.'
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