From headaches to a 10-hour life-saving operation – this is the journey of a young Pretoria woman who is ready to return to work next month after a huge tumour was removed from her brain at Centurion’s Netcare Unitas Hospital.

The onset of headaches was at first diagnosed as tension-related. However, for Azola Mnotoza, what initially seemed like an ordinary symptom revealed itself to be a significant warning sign.

At 26 years old, Mnotoza was working as a registry clerk and planning to complete her degree – life was fully on track.

Then one morning, everything changed when her mother went to wake her and found her confused, drenched in sweat, and struggling to speak or lift her head.

Mnotoza was rushed to the emergency department at Unitas Hospital, where urgent imaging revealed a large brain tumour.

“Azola’s scan showed a giant meningioma, which is a tumour arising from the meninges, or membranes, that surround the brain,” Dr Jaffar Azhar, a neurosurgeon practicing at the hospital, explained.

According to him, these tumours usually grow very slowly and are uncommon in someone so young. Although the tumor was benign, its size and location meant that it was high-risk, and surgery could not be delayed.

Azhar said if left untreated, Mnotoza’s condition would have continued to deteriorate and could have taken a sudden turn for the worse, becoming life-threatening.

Looking back, she noted that the headaches, which had been present for some time, were a red flag for something she would never have seen coming.

Hearing the news was frightening. She subsequently underwent a precise 10-hour-long neurosurgical procedure to remove the tumour.

“During this lengthy procedure, we used a surgical microscope to illuminate and magnify the intricate structures of Azola’s brain, and an ultrasonic aspirator to break down and safely remove the tumour while protecting the surrounding brain tissue,” Azhar explained.

He added that these tumours are often highly vascular and can lead to significant blood loss.

“In this type of surgery, we frequently use a cell-saver, a medical device that collects blood lost during surgery, then carefully filters and cleans it before transfusing it directly back to the patient to immediately replenish their own blood supply.”

Azhar emphasised that successful outcomes in complex neurosurgery depend on more than surgical skill and sophisticated technology. Each team member plays a vital role.

Following her procedure, Mnotoza spent several weeks recovering in hospital, which was followed by a rigorous rehabilitation programme.

Her tumour was on the left side of the brain, so she experienced some confusion, speech difficulties, and problems with walking after surgery.

Recovery from such major surgery can take up to two years. While Mnotoza’s procedure was highly successful, the road back to health has been long.

“I woke up after the operation, I couldn’t talk properly, and I couldn’t walk. Everything had to be relearned step by step, and it’s taken a lot of rehabilitation – more than a year – to get to where I am now.”

While the road to recovery has been long, she has made remarkable progress. Each day brings new advances as she rebuilds her life piece by piece, and she is hoping to return to work in February.

She is also hoping to continue with her studies towards a BA in Government, Administration, and Development.

Her speech is still improving, but every step forward feels like a victory, she said.

Azhar added that cases like Mnotoza highlight both the complexity of neurosurgical care and the resilience of patients, and people like her inspire the medical team to push the boundaries of what’s possible.

“Early diagnosis and access to specialised care can make a life-changing difference,” he advised.

zelda.venter@inl.co.za

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