Voices in woman's head helped in identifying brain tumor by urging her to get a scan

Hallucinations can be challenging, often making individuals feel as though they are losing their sanity. Yet, for one woman, these voices in her head proved life-saving when they revealed she had a brain tumor. The woman, previously in good health, began hearing voices saying, “Please don’t be afraid. I know it must be shocking to hear me, but this is the easiest way to reach you," as reported in a case by Research Gate.

"My friend and I used to work at the Children's Hospital, Great Ormond Street and we would like to help you," the voice said as per the author and the woman's doctor Ikechukwu Obialo Azuonye. The woman had heard of the place but had never been there because her children had always been healthy and never needed any major medical care. “To help you see that we are sincere, we would like you to check out the following”—the voices told the woman and gave her three new pieces of information that she didn't know before to assure her that her brain wasn't making things up. The woman checked the information given by the voices and all of it was true.

This frightened the woman further, convinced she was losing her mind. She saw a doctor who referred her to Azuonye. This all occurred in 1984, long after she had moved to England in the 1960s. The woman, likely in her late thirties or early forties, had never needed hospital care before, making the experience even more terrifying. At the psychiatric clinic, Azuonye diagnosed her with functional hallucinatory psychosis and prescribed counseling and thioridazine. After two weeks, the voices disappeared, and she felt better, continuing her medication even on vacation.

During her vacation, the voices returned, urging her to return to England for treatment. They directed her to a specific address, and, given their prior accuracy, she believed them. The doctor reluctantly agreed to send her there but reassured her that it was not real, as per IFLScience. Her husband drove her to the address and the voices told the woman to get a brain scan. It was found that the woman had a tumor that had characteristics of a meningioma. It was removed and she made a full recovery, per The Irish Times.

The surgical report stated, “A large left frontal bone flap extending across the midline was turned following a bifrontal skin flap incision. Meningioma about 2.5” by 1.5” in size arose from the falx and extended through to the right side. A small area of tumor appeared on the medial surface of the brain. The tumor was dissected out and removed completely along with its origins in the falx." After she regained consciousness the voices told her "We are pleased to have helped you. Goodbye.” 12 years later the woman was fine with no reoccurrence of the voices.

Doctors have a few possible explanations for her symptoms. One theory was that she had a prior diagnosis and sought free treatment under the NHS, though she had lived in the UK for over 15 years and was already entitled to it. Another theory suggested that a tumor of that size might have caused unusual sensations, prompting her to seek tests. The doctor, who had never encountered such a case, believed the voices were linked to the tumor since they disappeared completely after its removal.