A young woman saved her own life after successfully self-diagnosing cancer that doctors had missed because she researched her own worrying symptoms on TikTok
had been unknowingly living with a cancerous tumour growing behind her liver for years
Her life started to fall apart two-and-a-half years ago when her GP was unable to provide answers to the painful symptoms she was suffering
this all changed when the prospective fashion student undertook a TikTok scrolling session in the summer of 2024 and noticed a post which told her she may have a rare condition called Cushing's Syndrome
Her findings prompted doctors to order an X-ray
which revealed a 17cm cancerous mass had been growing inside the 21-year-old
It was surgically removed and she immediately began life-saving chemotherapy
medics told her that without the operation that year
"Doctors told me the tumours are 'usually between 3-4cm, 5cm is more serious.'", she told the Female Lead
"They told me that mine had likely been growing for years and there was a chance it could even be cancerous."
"A doctor also told me I’d probably saved a year of time based on how long a Cushing’s diagnosis could typically take
Cleo had suffered from painful bouts of bloating after eating and had been putting on weight
GPs initially told her she had polycystic ovary syndrome
a common hormonal disorder affecting women that was not curable but manageable through lifestyle choices
But Cleo's health continued to decline further and new symptoms - such as irregular periods
exhaustion and unexplained bruising - left her unable to leave her own house
Desperate to find out what was wrong with her
Cleo managed to get a endocrinologist appointment booked in
but had 12 weeks to wait until she saw them
It was during that period that Cleo undertook some research on the social media platform and found she had Cushing's Syndrome - a rare condition caused by prolonged exposure to the stress hormone cortisol in the body
"I saw a video that said: 'Do you have these symptoms?' and it listed extra weight around the stomach
I was reading a checklist of my life," Cleo told the Female Lead
people mentioned something called Cushing’s syndrome
I Googled it and immediately knew: this was me."
Cleo ended up going down a "researching rabbit hole" into a "corner of health" she had never heard of before
Cleo went to her appointment in July 2024 and presented her theory
Tests showed her cortisol levels were absurdly high
where the normal level is around 135 nmol/l
X-rays revealed that Cleo had a 17cm tumour
pushing up against her stomach and growing into her liver
Cleo's symptoms first started appearing after she returned home from travelling around Australia in the summer of 2022
Despite being a regular gym goer and healthy eater
she was gaining weight easily and seeing her usually thick locks of hair become a lot thinner
Cleo started to make changes to her lifestyle to see it it would help
"I blamed the contraceptive pill and stopped taking it
"The doctors told me I had PCOS which I could manage it with diet and lifestyle changes
But Cleo's symptoms only got worse and things started to spiral in February 2024
and I was getting strange new symptoms," she said
appearing even from stretching after workouts."
Alarm bells began to sound even louder when Cleo's freshly inked tattoo left her arm with bruising on it for weeks
She had been hoping to start university that summer
but her rapid health decline had left her not wanting to leave the house
"The most frustrating part was not having any answers," she said
"No one said I looked different except my older sister
I felt like I was in someone else’s body and I knew there was something wrong
but felt helpless not understanding what it was."
Cleo's chemo treatment finishes this month and she is hopeful of going on holiday this summer and potentially go to university this September
As well as being grateful to the helpful content regarding her symptoms
Cleo also praised TikTok for enabling her to connect with other young woman and girls who were suffering from Cushing's Syndrome
"TikTok has played another role in my health journey
It helped me connect with a girl who’d been through almost the exact same thing - first misdiagnosed with PCOS
then later discovering she had Cushing’s too
"Finding people my age going through similar experiences has been incredibly reassuring
"While the UK’s National Health Service website is helpful
nothing compares to hearing real stories from creators on TikTok who are living it
"I’d often reach out to them directly with specific questions
and those conversations gave me reassurance that medical information alone couldn’t
"If you’d told me everything I was about to go through
But going from diagnosis to operation in two months meant there was no time to overthink
See more More Latest News
See more Latest News
See more The News Explained
See more Royals
See more Highlights & Opinion
See more More Topics
accessible environment for everyone and the widest access possible to our buildings
Download the map PDF (2.2MB)
Our main entrance is on Akeman Street and has eight steps. Our schools entrance is on Park Street and is step free. Find out about parking, distances, surface texture and more access information on our How to get to the Museum page
We provide wheelchair and buggy access via our Park Street entrance
Our historic building has lots of stairs and railings so take care
especially if you're visiting with children
please ask one of our friendly visitor assistants or a member of the security team who you will find on duty around the Museum
We have wheelchairs you can borrow for free
folding stools you can take around the Museum
There are no steps between our outdoor quad
There is one step between our Foyer and our shop and one step between our Foyer and our internal toilets
Our lift can be used to get between our lower ground floor where our Cafe is
our ground floor that leads to the Akeman Street Car Park
our first-floor galleries and our second-floor galleries
The doors are 110cm wide and open at the front or back depending on the gallery
There are tactile lit buttons at a height of 90-110cm
to keep lifts free for those who need them
Gallery 3 has a concrete floor and there is a small patch of carpet tiles in front of our Rothschild Room
Gallery 1 has narrow aisles that are 150cm wide
Gallery 3 is a mezzanine with metal barriers and a wooden handrail on the right-hand side
The aisle in Gallery 3 is 83cm wide and there's a one-way system
There are 23 steps from Gallery 1 to Gallery 3
There are 14 steps from Gallery 3 to galleries 5 and 6
There is a small ramp from Gallery 3 to the Rothschild Room
The water fountain opposite our accessible toilet on the ground floor can be used to refill dog water bottles
Dogs can go to the toilet in our outdoor quad or in our woodland
We ask that dogs are kept on leads on site
Dogs can be let off the lead in Tring Park
narrow path next to our Hastoe Lane Car Park and over the bridge
Find out more about Tring Park.
D/deaf and hard of hearing We have hearing loops at our information desk and in our shop
If you need any other assistance during your visit
Find out more about Tring Park.
Gallery 6 and often Gallery 2 have low light levels to help preserve specimens
Our historic building has lots of stairs and railings
Pick up a free Tactile Sensory Bag from our information desk
The bag includes a variety of resources to support visually impaired children
including pebbles with outlines of animals
We've recently started doing audio-described events for families where you can handle specimens. Each event is focused on a different natural history theme and run for a few families at a time. See available dates on our What's On page
NeurodiversityWe have a variety of resources and activities to support children and families with neurodiverse conditions
Pick up a free Explorer Bag from our information desk
The bag includes resources and toys to support engagement with our displays
Some of our staff are trained in basic Makaton
We have four Makaton-based gallery trails:
There's also touch specimens and interactives in our galleries
We're quietest weekday afternoons during term time
We're busiest weekends and school holidays between October and March when our galleries can be noisy
Our woodland and meadow provide a quiet space
The visual guide at the bottom of this page includes descriptions so you know what to expect when you visit
Our SENDsational Mornings provide a quieter visiting experience for families with neurodiverse children
We run these a few times a year on Sundays, 10.00-12.00. Booking is required and tickets are released a few weeks before the event. Find out about upcoming dates here
Take a break from exploring the Museum and enjoy a fantastic selection of hot and cold drinks
Open: Tuesday - Sunday 10:00-mid afternoon
The Museum café is also open to non-Museum visitors
The Museum cafe is on the lower ground level
Enter the cafe from our Akeman Street Car Park
by using the lift or by going round the outside of the building
To get to the cafe from the car park you have to go down two steps or a short slope
There are male and female toilets outside the cafe within 10 metres
To get to these toilets you have to go up one step
Both male and female toilets have baby changing facilities
you can eat this outside in our picnic areas or indoors in Walter’s Workshop (this is used by schools in term-time)
Walter's Workshop is in the Akeman Street Car Park
You can get to it from the main building by using the lift or by walking outside round the building and then going over two zebra crossings
The entrance to Walter's Workshop has a slight slope and a narrow door 75cm wide
Inside are eight tables and 32 chairs arranged with a gap of 75cm between them
We've got a great range of nature-inspired gifts for all ages
There is a step between the Foyer and the shop
We have a ramp in the Foyer that can be used for this step
We have two sets of male and female toilets and an accessible toilet
All our toilets have adult and child toilet seats attached
One set of toilets is located inside on the ground floor
From the Foyer there is a step into the shop
From the shop there is another step into the corridor where the toilets are
We keep a ramp in our Foyer that can be used for these steps
The corridor to get to the toilets is 80cm wide with a door pinned back
The male toilets are on the left with a door 75cm wide that opens into the toilets
It contains two adult-height urinals and a toilet.There are no gaps at the top or bottom of the toilet because it's within a false wall
The female toilets are at the end of the corridor with a door 75cm wide that opens into the toilet
It contains four toilet cubicles that are 60cm wide
There are no baby changing facilities in these toilets
Our outside toilets are in our Akeman Street Car Park
The male and female toilets are next to each other
There are small steps up to each of the toilets and each door opens into the toilets
The female toilets have four toilet cubicles that are 55cm wide
The male toilets have an adult-sized urinal and a child-sized urinal and two toilet cubicles that are 55cm wide
Our accessible toilet is on the ground floor in our outdoor quad
has a higher sink and a lower sink at a height of 72cm
It is 445cm long and 200cm wide and the door opens into the toilet
The toilet has railings on both sides and right-hand side transfer
There is a panic alarm on the left-hand side
A radar key is not needed to get into the toilet
One cloakroom is next to our Foyer and there is one step to get to it
It is 330cm long and 143cm wide and has two rows of pegs and storage boxes
Our second cloakroom is by our outdoor quad
It is 127cm wide and 276cm long and the door is pinned open
There is one step into the cloakroom and the door is 73cm wide
ParkingThere is free car parking on Hastoe Lane
including three Blue Badge holder spaces and two parent-and-toddler spaces
Alternative car parks are available off the High Street
The car parks managed by Dacorum Borough Council are free for the first hour with a small charge after that
Find out more about parking at the Museum.
Photography and filmingWe allow photography and filming with hand-held cameras and phones for personal use
Ask others for their permission if you're taking photos or making recordings with them in
Any photography or filming that's for public or commercial purposes and not personal use needs to be agreed to by us first
Get in touch with our filming team before your visit or find out about using the Museum in filming or photo shoots on this page
If you are travelling by car you can park in our Hastoe Lane car park
You will walk through a small woodland to get to the Museum
The main entrance to the Museum is on Akeman Street
Our staff wear purple uniforms and can help with any questions
There are three staircases to help you get around the Museum
There are seven galleries with taxidermied animals mostly behind glass
Gallery 3 is a mezzanine level with animals in the middle
We have two sets of toilets inside and outside the Museum
Our accessible toilet has a baby change and a supported toilet
Our shop sells items for children and adults
along with paper-based activity trails to follow around the Museum
There is an outdoor woodland area that you can explore
Explore the galleriesFrom anglerfish to zebras
Activity and guide booksNavigate your way with our guidebook filled with fascinating stories and facts
or pick up an activity book to complete during and after your visit
Beyond the Museum: The best things to do in TringWhether you want to spend a weekend or make a day trip
find all the information you need to extend your trip beyond the Museum at Tring and discover Hertfordshire's hidden cultural gem
Receive email updates about our news, science, exhibitions, events, products, services and fundraising activities. We may occasionally include third-party content from our corporate partners and other museums. We will not share your personal details with these third parties. You must be over the age of 13. Privacy notice
Map
Map
We use cookies to give you the best online experience
We use them to improve our website and content
and to tailor our digital advertising on third-party platforms
You can change your preferences at any time
The technology comes as part of a £20 million government investment to modernise the network
offering simpler and more flexible payment options across the South East at 47 more stations for the first time
The LNR stations receiving the technology are: Apsley; Berkhamsted; Bletchley; Bricket Wood; Cheddington; Garston; Hemel Hempstead; How Wood; Kings Langley; Leighton Buzzard; Park Street; St Albans Abbey; Tring and Watford North
Passengers travelling to and from these stations will only need their contactless card or device to travel
providing easy access to the best priced adult fare available on the day
The PAYG upgrade also allows customers to benefit from daily and Monday – Sunday caps
Current methods of ticket purchasing such as paper tickets and online purchases
said: “We’re excited to launch this upgraded PAYG technology across more of our stations in the South East
bringing flexible travel to customers across the Abbey Line
and between Watford Junction and Bletchley
we encourage passengers to read up on the new system before they travel
with information available via our website.”
Our Academy Under 18s have been drawn away in the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Youth Cup
The young Shots will travel to Tring Athletic on Thursday
Our Under 18s overcame Dorking Wanderers in a penalty shootout thanks to Keanu Black’s save and Joshua Payne’s winning spot-kick on Wednesday night after Gabriel Wall scored in a 1-1 draw
Tring Athletic have already played three rounds in the competition
beating Uxbridge 2-1 in the Preliminary Round and Chalfont St Peter 7-0 in the First Qualifying Round before an impressive 2-1 win over Barnet came this week thanks to a 100th minute winner
Get the latest news from the Shots delivered for FREE to your inbox
© Copyright 2025 Aldershot Town Football Club
Tring Brewery have presented a cheque for over ten thousand pounds to a Berkhamsted-based men’s mental wellbeing charity
Tring Brewery have announced the results of their 2024 charity campaigning
having raised over ten thousand pounds for Hector’s House
Hector’s House was founded in 2016 to campaign in the name of Hector Stringer
a Tring local who sadly took his life aged 18
Hector’s House aims to prevent suicide and reduce mental health stigma through education
Tring’s campaign for Hector’s House started in January 2024 and has seen activities including an exciting online raffle
collections at all four of the brewery’s membership nights and a sell-out charity beer festival (ToadFest) hosted in May
The release of ‘Whitewater’ marked the campaign’s launch – one of twelve specials that were brewed to champion Hector’s House
Beer names and imagery were drawn from the vivid realm of local legend
with ales such as ‘Kingmaker’ and ‘Dazzle N’ Trap’ enjoyed by discerning drinkers in the home-counties
a special ‘Hop Scented Beard Oil’ was released in collaboration with beauty maker Bare Essentials
A limited run of 100 bottles were scented with fruity aromas and real hop extract
styled on Tring’s popular ‘Raven King’ IPA
Raven King Beard Oil was put on sale in the brewery’s shop and online store
raising close to £500 for the Hector’s House charity pot
The brewery’s annual raffle accounted for close to a third of the overall pot
with £1500 raised in the space of just three weeks
Food and drink items were donated by nearby artisans Yvette’s
Arms pub (Frithsden) and The Rex Cinema (Berkhamsted) were joined by
vouchers from surrounding institutes like Watford Football Club and The Snow Centre
Tring contributed a veritable ‘cherry on the cake’ with their own raffle prize donations
Brewery contributions included membership to their Golden Toad Club
a unique Beer for a Year card (60 litres of draught ale to be taken in any increment) and a much lauded ‘Brew Your Own Beer’ experience
will work with the brewery to design and produce their very own ale
Sam Reed (Tring brewer and Hector’s House ambassador) was joined by Hector’s House community members at Tring’s brewery shop
where a cheque for £10,142.60 was presented to the charity on Thursday January 30th
“It has been a pleasure and a privilege to champion Hector’s House
we are thrilled help with their amazing work
it has meant a great deal to generate funds that will enable Hector’s House to assist local men
Great strides have been made in the recognition of our mental health in recent years
though there is still much work to be done and Hector’s House are excelling in their efforts
Hector’s House Founder and Trustee Robert Stringer said:
the family and I could not have been more touched by the support received from Tring Brewery
a super human who has personally supported the family and Hector’s House
particularly with Hector’s Gentleman’s Club
Tring Brewery have supported Hector’s House in so many ways
what has been achieved in the past year has been phenomenal
which will ensure we can provide tailored support to the community
the awareness raised at Tring Brewery events
has really helped us in raising awareness which is a crucial part of our mission
I am entirely humbled and grateful to Tring Brewery
Here’s to the incredible work of Hector’s House: something we can all raise a glass to
Funds raised for Hector’s House will be used to prevent suicide and reduce mental health stigma through education
If you or someone you know needs mental wellbeing assistance, or you would like to help with local wellbeing awareness, please do reach out to Hector’s House at hectorshouse.org.uk
Notes to editor/an introduction to Tring Brewery
Tagline: ‘Legendary Beer from Hertfordshire’
Essex + nationwide through our webshop and other online retailers
“Each Tring beer is crafted with imagery and namesake of the historic home-counties
keeping a local tie with the land around us
This local tie is strengthened by our use of mineral rich water from the Chiltern Hills and finished with our signature house yeast strain
imparting a local terroir to our portfolio of 15 core range beers along with monthly
“Tring Brewery is an independent microbrewery based in Hertfordshire
joined in the year 2000 as him and Richard set about crafting what is now our flagship beer
named after an old Hertfordshire phrase for ‘something useless’ i.e
we are proud to produce beer that has been inspired by home-counties folklore both through namesake and imagery
crafted with premium hops and malted barley
blended with Chiltern Hills water before finishing with our signature house yeast strain
today situated on the picturesque Dunsley Farm
has crafted quality ales for over thirty years
Visit Tring Brewery to experience our welcoming on-site shop
food pairings and plenty of Legendary Beer from Hertfordshire!”
Jared Ward, Marketing & Communications jared@tringbrewery.co.uk – 01442 890721 @TringBrewery on Facebook
HECTOR’S HOUSE INFO : https://hectorshouse.org.uk/
HISTORY: https://tringbrewery.co.uk/today-and-history/
OUR BEERS: https://tringbrewery.co.uk/our-beers/
ORIGIN OF BEER NAMES: https://tringbrewery.co.uk/beer-names/
AWARDS: https://tringbrewery.co.uk/awards/
FOOD MATCHING OUR BEERS: https://tringbrewery.co.uk/food-matching/
BREWERY TOURS: https://tringbrewery.co.uk/tring-brewery-tours/
THE BREWERY SHOP: https://tringbrewery.co.uk/about-the-shop/
CHARITY COMMITTMENT: https://tringbrewery.co.uk/charity/
Image: Sam from Tring Brewery (centre-right
holding cheque) presents a cheque for £10,142.60 to Robert Stringer (left-centre
Hector’s father and charity founder + trustee) and Dec (front-centre
charity campaigns and events assistant) from Hector’s House
flanked by members of Hector’s House ‘Gentle-man’s Club’
Third-party news items that are posted on the Guild website come from press releases and emails received by the Guild
These are posted as they have been received
Their publication on the Guild website is an informational service only and is neither an endorsement of the content
please use the contact details that can be found at the bottom of each post
Email secretary@beerguild.co.uk
Copyright © The British Guild of Beer Writers 2025
Developed by HGA
To continue reading this article you must be logged in
Register or login below to unlock 3 free articles every month
Or subscribe from just £7.99 and get unlimited access to thestage.co.uk
Invest in The Stage today with a subscription starting at just £7.99
© Copyright The Stage Media Company Limited 2025
A gritty performance from Bedford Athletic did not help them avoid a 46-24 defeat at home to Tring
In a match against opponents that they have never beaten
their cause was not helped by a red card in the first half and a yellow in the second which left the team fighting an uphill battle and with just a try bonus point to show for their efforts
The home team conceded a penalty from the kick off which Tring scrum half Ben Hogan immediately converted for a 3-0 lead
Bedford Athletic responded with a controlled and penetrating attacking game which paid dividends when Andy Ince picked up and went through a ruck and fed Lewis Sharp in support for a try under the posts
The Bedford Athletic scrum was quickly dominant and this gave the team a platform and possession
but Tring had the better of the kicking game and eventually this found the home team working hard to get out of their own half
A couple of lost lineouts did not help their cause but the hammer blow came on 23 minutes when an upright tackle from centre Nathan Litchfield saw him adjudged to have connected with his opponents head and receive a red card
This immediately changed the dynamic of the game with Tring now looking for and finding the space to exploit
Although Bedford Athletic were working hard in defence they could not stop Tring from finding the gaps and electric winger Charlie Goss-Lambourne benefitted twice
once on the left and once on the right for two tries; one of which was converted by Hogan for a 15-7 half time lead
The second half started badly for the home side as a speculative chip ahead from fly half Ben Criddle turned into a potent opportunity and his subsequent fly hack ahead wrong footed the defence and he was able to collect the bouncing ball for a score under the posts
Bedford Athletic responded with real grit and character and a move from a set piece saw them cut through the visiting defence with both Harry Sawford-Smith and Tana Stenson opening up the path for Josh Cassell to score
fly half Foster put an accurate kick through to the Tring 5-metre line
Tring lost control of the ball from the lineout and the home scrum shoved the visiting eight backwards to allow scrum half Stenson to pick up and score
This narrowed the gap to 22-17 with half an hour to play
Tring were dangerous when they won possession close to the home side’s line and two tries for Ed Harrison and centre Richard Beeny which secured them the bonus point; Hogan converting one for a 34-19 lead with 15 minutes to play
Bedford Athletic upped the intensity in response and scored a fine try when Tommy Prowse took the ball at the back of a line out and punched a hole for Sawford-Smith to run onto the ball and score
the momentum appeared to be with the home side despite the man deficit but this was punctured when a strange decision to give a yellow card to Josh Cassell when running with the ball for leading with his arm stalled the home side’s progress
Bedford Athletic could no longer close off the space and Tring found gaps and finished with two tries from distance
The first was scored despite the home defender being blocked from making the crucial tackle and the second an interception when the home side had thrown caution to the wind
full back Ted Stanford and fly half Criddle the beneficiaries
A late yellow card for visiting back row Harry McCartney made no difference
It was a day when despite a lot of hard graft not much went the way of the home side and to compound the disappointment the scoreline meant that the team have now conceded an average of over 50 points a match in the last ten matches
The onus will be in an improved defensive performance away to Letchworth this coming Saturday (21 September) with a 3pm kick off
is set to take on an epic challenge to help raise funds for her friend's child
By NOTICEBOARD · 26 March 2025
A Tring mother of two is taking on the London Marathon to help raise funds for her friend’s child
from Hemel Hempstead at an NCT class before their eldest sons
was born not breathing and needed six minutes of resuscitation
were told to say goodbye and Rico’s life support was switched off
and was able to go home from hospital after three weeks
said: ‘Rico has been diagnosed with epilepsy
cerebral palsy and global developmental delay
‘All we want to do is give him the best chance possible to learn
his vision and hearing seem to be developing
and he is 100 per cent orally fed and being weaned onto solids slowly
‘The NHS has provided us with basic assessments and therapies
but there is so much more available to help Rico with his brain development and early intervention is key
we funded both alternative therapies and essential treatments ourselves (physiotherapy
chiropractor sessions and ophthalmology and ENT assessments)
we are planning to raise funds in any way we can to pay for more physiotherapy and help Rico’s brain rewire itself through neuroplasticity (which has the most potential during the first five years)
but he has come so far already and seems to fight every hurdle presented to him.’
friends and supporters who have already raised around £5,000 to help support his needs
I’m hugely grateful to Lauren for taking on the challenge of the London Marathon for him - it means a lot to us.’
Journalist Lauren said: ‘I have never run anything like a marathon before and hadn’t really done any running since having children
But I supported a friend in last year’s London Marathon
loved the atmosphere and fancied the challenge
so I decided to enter the ballot and leave it to the Gods of running to decide.’
I immediately knew I wanted to use it to help raise funds for Rico
Running a marathon is a challenge but it’s nothing compared to the strength that little boy shows
I’m delighted to do whatever I can to support him to help him reach his own goals.’
Rico’s family is being supported by children’s charity Tree of Hope which helps families fundraise for children like Rico with healthcare needs which cannot be provided by the NHS and provides charity status to benefit from gift aid
corporate support while also providing donor reassurance
Tree of Hope CEO Becky Andrew said: ‘We wish Rico and his family all the best with their fundraising activities and Lauren the best of luck for the Marathon
We are pleased to give them support in reaching their fundraising goals.’
To donate to Rico’s fund or to sponsor Lauren, visit: https://www.treeofhope.org.uk/ways-to-give/childrens-campaigns/fundraising-for-rico/ or https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Lauren-runs-2025
LoadingDaily Email Updates
{{contentTitle}}