A MUM-of-two is raising awareness of brain tumours after being diagnosed with one at the age of 24.

Lorna-Rose Samson, 26, from Wimborne, was diagnosed with a Pilocytic Astrocytoma in 2005 after experiencing persistent headaches, balance and co-ordination problems and migraines, which gave her blurred and double vision.

She said: "It took me two-and-a-half years to be diagnosed with Derek, the name I’ve given my tumour.

"I do remember the earaches, hearing loss, headaches, blurred vision and the worried look on my mum's face each time I told her about these symptoms, along with the embarrassment of being the only one of my friends who hadn't begun puberty yet."

Lorna-Rose said that her parents knew that something wasn't quite right, but the doctors were not able to find a cause.

“Not only is it unfair for a child or young adult to go so long before being diagnosed but it’s unfair on the parents who have to watch their child be in pain.”

As a mum to Nate, seven, and Cody, four, she says that she feels passionate about more people getting an early diagnosis, which can be aided by people recognising the symptoms of a brain tumour.

She said that the re-launch of the charity HeadSmart's campaign, which includes a website and symptom cards, can help members of the public to become more aware.

"This campaign is one of the most important things to support, not only as a brain tumour patient myself, but as a parent too.

"The idea that my children or their friends could have symptoms overlooked to then suffer the consequences of late diagnosis, is a scary, yet preventable scenario."

Professor David Walker, co-director of The Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre, said: “Since developing and launching HeadSmart, we have made real progress, halving the time it takes on average to diagnose a child with a brain tumour across the UK.

"This re-launch of the HeadSmart campaign uses new evidence, justifying a new approach to healthcare professionals, young people and parents of younger children.

"With this revised approach we aim to further accelerate the speed of diagnosis by helping doctors, young people and their families to work better together in selecting those who need a brain scan to diagnose or exclude a brain tumour."

He added that symptoms may vary depending on the age groups. For more information, visit Headsmart.org.uk