She Thought It Was Just a Headache—But Doctors Told Her It Was Cancer

What started as a nagging headache turned out to be something far more serious for 49-year-old realtor Debbie Gilbert-Gardner. After three weeks of persistent pain, she sought answers, and what doctors found changed everything.

Debbie was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme.

Debbie’s diagnosis came after a visit to the ER and an initial brain biopsy at a local hospital. But as her husband Louis and sister Nicole dug into research, they realized something critical—Debbie needed to be under the care of specialists.

When Debbie arrived, she met Dr. Lee and neuro-oncologist Dr. James Snyder, both leaders in their field. Her case was quickly reviewed by the 20-member multidisciplinary tumor board—a team of experts spanning neuro-oncology, radiation oncology, clinical trials, and supportive care. Together, they created a personalized treatment plan built around advanced technologies and extensive genetic testing to understand the tumor’s molecular profile.

“Sometimes patients have a genetic feature in their tumor that tells us how it might behave or what treatment may work best,” explains Dr. Snyder.

In Debbie’s case, her tumor sat deep in the thalamus—a part of the brain often considered inoperable. But Dr. Lee saw a path forward using laser ablation, a minimally invasive technique that uses laser heat to destroy cancer cells while preserving healthy tissue. The team successfully removed 85% of her tumor in a five-hour surgery.

Debbie received chemotherapy with Temozolomide (Temodar) and completed 30 rounds of external beam radiation. She also began using Optune, a wearable device that delivers low-intensity electric fields to disrupt cancer cell growth. It must be worn at least 18 hours a day to be effective—a commitment Debbie meets head-on.

“I’d love to have hair. But I’d love to live longer,” she says. “So, I’ll wear it for the rest of my life.”

Through it all, Debbie has leaned on her family, her faith, and her young grandson, whose energy has kept her grounded and focused on the present. “I didn’t have time to get sad with a child pulling on me,” she laughs.

What Is Glioblastoma Multiforme and Why Does It Cause Headaches?

Glioblastoma multiforme is actually the name of one of the most aggressive brain tumors.

This kind of tumor grows very fast. It attacks the brain by spreading into nearby brain tissues. But, even though it’s fierce, it usually doesn’t travel to other parts of the body. That might sound like good news, but inside the brain, this tumor causes lots of trouble.

Your brain is a soft, important organ, and GBM can pop up suddenly—scientists call this "de novo." Or, it might grow from a slower, lower-grade tumor that becomes more dangerous over time. In adults, GBM most often shows up in areas called the frontal and temporal lobes. These parts of your brain help control things like thinking, speaking, and feelings.

What does this have to do with headaches?

As GBM grows, it takes up space in the skull. That’s a big problem because your brain doesn’t like being squeezed. This pressure causes headaches—often stubborn, painful, and they don’t go away easily. GBM can also cause swelling around the tumor. This swelling, known as edema, makes the pressure even worse, leading to more intense headaches and sometimes nausea or vomiting. Because GBM messes up normal brain functions, you might also see seizures, vision changes, or even mood swings. All these symptoms happen because the tumor is pressing on or damaging important areas of the brain.

Doctors use special scans like MRI to spot GBM and figure out how it’s behaving inside the brain. And once they know it’s there, they move fast—GBM doesn’t give them much time. Treatments like surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy try to slow it down, but GBM is tricky and likes to fight back.