From Headaches to Hope: An Unexpected Journey with a Pituitary Tumor

Tony Brinson, a 47-year-old entrepreneur from Eastpointe, lives life at full speed. “I’m a motivational speaker, published author and business owner which includes my own clothing brand,” he says proudly. When he’s not building his businesses, Tony is sharpening his skills in chess and billiards, two of his favorite pastimes.

Health-wise, Tony considered himself fairly healthy—despite having high blood pressure and dealing with occasional headaches. But when those headaches began to feel different, more intense and persistent, he knew something wasn’t right.

An unexpected diagnosis

A visit to the local emergency room turned Tony’s life upside down.

“The doctor ordered an imaging test, and when he came back with the results, I honestly thought he had the wrong patient,” Tony recalls. “He told me I had an anterior pituitary adenoma—a noncancerous tumor in the pituitary gland at the base of the brain.”

This pea-sized gland, located behind the bridge of the nose, can cause serious symptoms when a tumor grows and presses on nearby structures. In Tony’s case, it was the cause of his worsening headaches and had the potential to lead to complications such as double vision and loss of peripheral vision.

Searching for the best care

True to his entrepreneurial spirit, Tony immediately got to work—this time, on researching the best doctors and treatment centers for his condition.

“I received a second opinion, then a third, which led me to Dr. Jack Rock at Henry Ford Hospital,” Tony explains. “Everywhere I turned, people told me he was one of the best in the country.”

That recommendation proved to be a turning point. Dr. Rock, neurosurgeon and co-director of the Henry Ford Skull Base, Pituitary and Endoscopy Center, recommended a minimally invasive endoscopic surgical treatment through the nasal passages to remove the tumor.

A complex surgery with a multidisciplinary team

Dr. Rock explains that treatment for patients with pituitary tumors involves a team of physicians including Primary Care, Endocrinology, Neuroradiology, Rhinology and Neurosurgery. This multidisciplinary care team at Henry Ford Health manages all aspects of the medical and surgical challenges associated with these tumors, which are benign in nature in more than 98% of cases.

“Once the diagnosis is established, the care team determines whether or not the tumor can be effectively managed with observation, medications or surgery and many of these tumors do not need surgery. However, if surgery is determined to be the optimal treatment, like in Mr. Brinson’s case, the rhinologist and neurosurgeon perform the endoscopic procedure expecting to remove most if not all of the tumor,” he says.

In general, Dr. Rock explains that patients remain in the hospital from 1-3 days and return to their normal lives within a few weeks while the care team follows up with the patient over the following several years. “The prognosis for the vast majority of patients is excellent with improvements in vision and headache and, in cases of hormone-related tumors, normalization of elevated hormones,” he adds.

Road to recovery

Just weeks after surgery, Tony is already making a strong recovery. He emphasizes that his faith and family have been a driving force in keeping him strong throughout his journey. 

“If you saw me today, you wouldn’t guess I had brain surgery,” Tony says. “There are small marks from two small metal screws used during my surgery but most people don’t notice them—even though I’m ‘hair-challenged’ as I like to say,” he jokes.

He’s experienced typical post-surgery symptoms like nosebleeds, dizziness, and temporary loss of taste and smell, but remains hopeful they’ll subside in time. 

“Dr. Rock and Dr. Amrita Ray, my ear, nose and throat surgeon, have reassured me that what I’m experiencing is normal, and that most of these symptoms improve over a few months.”

Sharing his story to inspire others

Tony is now channeling his experience into advocacy, hoping to encourage others facing a similar diagnosis.

“Doing your research and finding the right doctors can make all the difference,” he emphasizes. “I feel very fortunate that my insurance was accepted and that I found Dr. Rock and the team at Henry Ford.”

Inspired by Henry Ford Health commercials featuring patients who overcame life-threatening conditions, Tony hopes to inspire others with his story.  

“I hope to be a positive example for others that look at me and see that after brain surgery I’m functioning well, looking normal and still a self-proclaimed expert at chess and billiards.”

For more information on pituitary adenoma visit the Henry Ford Skull Base Pituitary and Endoscopy Center.