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Tanya Dutt

"No Something’s Off": 'Grey’s Anatomy’ Star Kate Walsh Recalls Very Subtle Warning Signs Before Brain Tumour Diagnosis

Kate Walsh, aka Dr. Addison Montgomery, OBGYN, a character the actress played on Grey’s Anatomy, never imagined she would face a real-life medical crisis. But in 2015, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor—an experience that profoundly shaped her outlook on health and the importance of advocating for oneself. Now, at 57, she is using her story to raise awareness about early cancer detection through her partnership with Grail’s Generation Possible initiative.

Unlike dramatic medical emergencies depicted in television dramas, Walsh’s symptoms were insidiously quiet, creeping in so subtly that they could have been mistaken for everyday fatigue or stress.

"It was like, 'Hey, I'm really tired,' and then it's like, 'Oh, the right side of my body is dipping,'" she recalled during a recent appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show. At first, she brushed off her exhaustion and attributed it to the normal wear and tear of life. Friends and colleagues assured her that she was just feeling off.

“I would say, ‘No, something’s off,’ and they’d say, ‘Oh, you’re fine. You’re just tired,’” she shared. Even while walking her dog, Walsh noticed an imbalance but dismissed it, assuming it was just a windy day.

She also experienced difficulty concentrating, likening it to attention deficit disorder (ADD). "I can’t really focus. Oh, I’ve been scrolling too much," she thought at the time. But her gut told her otherwise. Despite others attributing her symptoms to depression—especially following the cancellation of her TV show Bad Judge—Walsh knew something deeper was at play.

One of the biggest challenges Walsh faced was convincing medical professionals to take her concerns seriously. “They don’t just hand out MRIs,” she explained. But she pushed to see a neurologist, driven by an unshakable instinct that something was wrong.

After finally receiving an MRI, her worst fears were confirmed—a sizable brain tumor in her left frontal lobe. "I just left my body," she said, recalling the moment of her diagnosis. Unable to process the news alone, she fetched her assistant to take notes on what the doctors were saying.

Three days later, Walsh underwent surgery to remove the tumor. Fortunately, it was identified as a benign <span>meningioma</span>, a noncancerous growth that forms in the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. However, the experience left an indelible mark on her, reinforcing the critical need for self-advocacy in healthcare.

Meningiomas are the most common type of benign brain tumor. According to the Mayo Clinic, these tumors can be slow-growing, often developing over years without noticeable symptoms. However, as they enlarge and exert pressure on surrounding brain structures, they may lead to various neurological issues.

<ul><li>Persistent headaches</li><li>Seizures</li><li>Blurred vision</li><li>Weakness or numbness in limbs</li><li>Difficulty balancing</li><li>Hearing loss</li><li>Memory impairment</li></ul>

Because symptoms develop gradually, meningiomas can be misdiagnosed as age-related changes, stress, or other neurological conditions. In some cases, patients may not require immediate treatment, but regular brain scans are necessary to monitor tumor growth.

Walsh’s advocacy for early screening is deeply personal. Cancer runs in her family—her father passed away from lung cancer before his 61st birthday, and her mother is a breast cancer survivor. Additionally, she has lost friends to the disease and has relatives who have battled different forms of cancer.

"Knowledge is power," Walsh emphasized. She hopes her experience will encourage others to listen to their bodies and push for answers when something feels wrong. As part of her efforts to promote early detection, she has partnered with Grail, a healthcare company specializing in multi-cancer early detection (MCED) testing. Their Generation Possible initiative aims to educate people on the importance of routine screenings to catch cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages.

Walsh acknowledges that speaking up about health concerns can be intimidating. Even with her television experience playing a doctor, she admitted to feeling nervous when visiting physicians. To ease the process, she often brings a friend to appointments to take notes and ask questions she might overlook.

Her message is clear: trust your instincts and push for proper medical evaluations. “It’s a hard thing when you have everybody looking at you going, ‘Hmm, I think you’re just this or that. You’re tired,’” she said. But as her story proves, persistent self-advocacy can be life-saving.

Since her diagnosis and recovery, Walsh has embraced a quieter lifestyle away from Hollywood. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she found herself “stuck” in Perth, Australia, but ultimately decided to make it her permanent home after falling in love with Australian farmer Andrew Nixon, to whom she is now engaged.

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Kate Walsh, aka Dr. Addison Montgomery, OBGYN, a character the actress played on Grey’s Anatomy, never imagined she would face a real-life medical crisis. But in 2015, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor—an experience that profoundly shaped her outlook on health and the importance of advocating for oneself. Now, at 57, she is using her story to raise awareness about early cancer detection through her partnership with Grail’s Generation Possible initiative.Unlike dramatic medical emergencies depicted in television dramas, Walsh’s symptoms were insidiously quiet, creeping in so subtly that they could have been mistaken for everyday fatigue or stress."It was like, 'Hey, I'm really tired,' and then it's like, 'Oh, the right side of my body is dipping,'" she recalled during a recent appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show. At first, she brushed off her exhaustion and attributed it to the normal wear and tear of life. Friends and colleagues assured her that she was just feeling off.“I would say, ‘No, something’s off,’ and they’d say, ‘Oh, you’re fine. You’re just tired,’” she shared. Even while walking her dog, Walsh noticed an imbalance but dismissed it, assuming it was just a windy day.She also experienced difficulty concentrating, likening it to attention deficit disorder (ADD). "I can’t really focus. Oh, I’ve been scrolling too much," she thought at the time. But her gut told her otherwise. Despite others attributing her symptoms to depression—especially following the cancellation of her TV show Bad Judge—Walsh knew something deeper was at play.One of the biggest challenges Walsh faced was convincing medical professionals to take her concerns seriously. “They don’t just hand out MRIs,” she explained. But she pushed to see a neurologist, driven by an unshakable instinct that something was wrong.After finally receiving an MRI, her worst fears were confirmed—a sizable brain tumor in her left frontal lobe. "I just left my body," she said, recalling the moment of her diagnosis. Unable to process the news alone, she fetched her assistant to take notes on what the doctors were saying.Three days later, Walsh underwent surgery to remove the tumor. Fortunately, it was identified as a benign meningioma, a noncancerous growth that forms in the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. However, the experience left an indelible mark on her, reinforcing the critical need for self-advocacy in healthcare.What is a Meningioma?Meningiomas are the most common type of benign brain tumor. According to the Mayo Clinic, these tumors can be slow-growing, often developing over years without noticeable symptoms. However, as they enlarge and exert pressure on surrounding brain structures, they may lead to various neurological issues.Common Symptoms of Meningiomas:Persistent headachesSeizuresBlurred visionWeakness or numbness in limbsDifficulty balancingHearing lossMemory impairmentBecause symptoms develop gradually, meningiomas can be misdiagnosed as age-related changes, stress, or other neurological conditions. In some cases, patients may not require immediate treatment, but regular brain scans are necessary to monitor tumor growth.Walsh’s advocacy for early screening is deeply personal. Cancer runs in her family—her father passed away from lung cancer before his 61st birthday, and her mother is a breast cancer survivor. Additionally, she has lost friends to the disease and has relatives who have battled different forms of cancer."Knowledge is power," Walsh emphasized. She hopes her experience will encourage others to listen to their bodies and push for answers when something feels wrong. As part of her efforts to promote early detection, she has partnered with Grail, a healthcare company specializing in multi-cancer early detection (MCED) testing. Their Generation Possible initiative aims to educate people on the importance of routine screenings to catch cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages.Walsh acknowledges that speaking up about health concerns can be intimidating. Even with her television experience playing a doctor, she admitted to feeling nervous when visiting physicians. To ease the process, she often brings a friend to appointments to take notes and ask questions she might overlook.Her message is clear: trust your instincts and push for proper medical evaluations. “It’s a hard thing when you have everybody looking at you going, ‘Hmm, I think you’re just this or that. You’re tired,’” she said. But as her story proves, persistent self-advocacy can be life-saving.Since her diagnosis and recovery, Walsh has embraced a quieter lifestyle away from Hollywood. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she found herself “stuck” in Perth, Australia, but ultimately decided to make it her permanent home after falling in love with Australian farmer Andrew Nixon, to whom she is now engaged.

"no something’s off": 'grey’s anatomy’ star kate walsh recalls very subtle warning signs before brain tumour diagnosis

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