Taylor Swift fan who forgot lyrics told symptoms were 'normal for women'

A 24-year-old Taylor Swift fan knew something was wrong when she couldn't remember the lyrics to her favourite songs. Hannah-Ireland Durando, 24, visited the doctor after experiencing symptoms including changes in behaviour, fatigue and , but was told "it was normal for women" and that it would "get worse with age".

After she collapsed at work in August 2024, she went back to the doctors and was booked in for a CT scan, which revealed a golf-ball-sized growth on the left frontal lobe - part of the brain that is responsible for behaviour. Hannah was diagnosed with a non-cancerous cavernoma - a cluster of abnormal blood vessels - in December 2024.

She cannot have surgery because of the tumour's location, which could negatively affect her speech, and every three months she has scans to monitor the growth. Hannah, an aspiring actress and costume designer, said: "It was an extremely difficult time. I woke up one morning and had no zest for life. I used to be really outgoing, a Marvel fan, and a huge nerd who would have movie nights with my friends.

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"But nothing made me excited. There would be periods where I just 'rot' in bed, which was unlike me. I even forgot the lyrics to my favourite song, Haunted (Taylor's Version)," she added.

"I was in the car driving to work, singing along, and then my head went blank when it came to the chorus. I just thought that perhaps this was normal as you grow up."

Hannah-Ireland became more "short-tempered" and "unfeeling" in February 2024 after waking up one morning. During this time, she was already on anti-anxiety medication and was considering upping the dose to help her get back to "normal"; she thought it might have been "depression".

"There was one weekend where I just stayed in bed and didn't leave once," she said. "I was planning my wedding during this time, and I couldn't be bothered. I genuinely convinced myself this is who I am now."

The following month, Hannah-Ireland went to the doctors after her emotions started to "spiral" and she began experiencing debilitating headaches. She said: "The doctors told me that women get headaches and that it is normal as people get older. I felt completely dismissed, and it was so discouraging to hear. There were no answers to what I was going through, and they told me to keep an eye on it."

In July 2024, she visited the doctors again for a routine check-up - where nothing was picked up on besides the 30 extra pounds she had put on - and Hannah continued to express "anti-social behaviour" and, most worryingly, forgetfulness. "I often found myself unable to sing along to my favourite Taylor Swift tracks, and my clothes didn't fit," she said. "All the doctors seemed to focus on was my gender, age, and weight. I felt like I was being ignored and not taken seriously."

It wasn't until she collapsed at work the following month, in August 2024, that a CT scan was ordered, which revealed a golf-ball-sized tumour pressing against of left frontal lobe, which had haemorrhaged. "I was in the office when I felt a stabbing pain in my left ear and my vision went yellow," Hannah said. "I felt like I was being strangled; that was when I hit the floor."

Hannah-Ireland was diagnosed with a cavernoma - a cluster of blood vessels - after three months of tests in December 2024. "The doctors thought it was an aneurysm at first because I was haemorrhaging," she said.

"There was a lot of confusion and when I got my diagnosis, my first thought was that I was going to die. I was told I had to live carefully from now on."

Hannah-Ireland is unable to have surgery because the tumour is pressing against her frontal lobe and broca area - which could compromise her speech and other aspects of her behaviour. Because of her previous bleed, she is now four to 25 per cent more likely to have another haemorrhage and "fears" of having a stroke.

Hannah-Ireland has started undergoing occupational therapy to help with her balance, as well as scans every three months to monitor the growth's progression, but knows that "there isn't much that can be done".

She now wears a cap to wash herself - to help soothe the pain of her headaches - and "sedates" herself to sleep with baclofen every night, as "that is when the pain is worse". " My life changed so much in just six months," she said.

"I live in fear and uncertainty, as I could have a stroke at any time, develop slurred speech, or forget most things. My family and partner, Tyler, 24, a baseball coach, have been incredibly supportive and patient with me. I just wish I had said something sooner and that I wasn't ignored.

"I hope no one has to experience what I've gone through and that it inspires more women to advocate for themselves."