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A woman collapsed with a brain tumour after her GP told her 10 times that she was not seriously ill.

Sheela Gandhi, 57, had to be taken to St George’s hospital in Tooting for surgery after a £700 MRI scan paid for privately by her husband Bharat, 60, finally revealed why she had become increasingly unsteady on her feet.

Mrs Gandhi was found to have a 5cm tumour at the base of her skull — despite her GP believing she was suffering from a virus and vitamin deficiency.

She had a six-and-half hour operation on December 23 and spent four days over Christmas in intensive care.

Mrs Gandhi was discharged on December 31 and yesterday made her first phone call since her operation when she told the Standard about her experiences.

Mrs Gandhi, from Selhurst, said: “It’s because of my husband that my life is saved. He was fighting the authorities. He was crying in desperation but that made him persevere.

“That is the most frightening thing for me — doctors are qualified and they expect you to accept what they say.”

She was taken to Croydon Hospital and then transferred to St George’s, a regional centre of excellence for neurological conditions, after being found semi-conscious on her bedroom floor.

Mr Gandhi, a former London Underground controller, said: “My wife and I had 10 appointments with our GP and were told each time it was nothing to worry about and sent home. I know my wife, and she just wasn’t right in herself.” The tumour had been slowly putting pressure on her brain stem and could have killed her at any time.

Senior consultant neurosurgeon Henry Marsh, who led the St George’s team, said: “The tumour was benign and, as surgeons say, ‘co-operated’, so we expect Mrs Gandhi to make a full recovery.”

St George’s deals with between 450 and 500 brain tumours a year. Mr Gandhi said: “If you aren’t happy with the advice of a medical professional then don’t be afraid to get a second opinion. I’m not interested in blaming people. Everyone makes mistakes. I am just glad that my wife is back home where she belongs.”

The Gandhis are planning to set up a charitable trust to help raise awareness and support for people with neurological illnesses.

Their GP, Dr Hermes Noronha, was unavailable for comment.