An NHS nurse whose leg was amputated after an “extraordinarily uncommon” cancerous tumour was present in her calf has spoken of getting into “survival mode” to “course of” her analysis and “keep optimistic”.
Sophie Fay, 26, an intensive care nurse for 4 years, lives in Merseyside together with her father, Paul Fay, 67.
She first seen an “aching” ache behind her proper knee in March 2024. Having just lately enlisted a private coach, Ms Fay initially dismissed the ache as a muscle harm.
Nonetheless, when her calf grew to become “swollen” and “scorching to the touch”, and work colleagues seen the seen distinction, she sought medical assist.
After being informed her signs may very well be brought on by a blood clot or a muscular drawback, Ms Fay’s worsening pains prompted her to push for additional solutions, particularly when she discovered her proper calf was “six centimetres larger than the opposite”.
Ms Fay had her leg amputated above the knee in December 2024 (Accumulate/PA Actual Life)
Ms Fay had an MRI scan in November 2024, which revealed a big tumour “taking on the whole lot of (her) calf”, and the mass was recognized as spindle cell sarcoma of the bone, an especially uncommon soft-tissue tumour.
As her blood vessels and nerves had been “fully encased” by the tumour, Ms Fay was knowledgeable the one possibility was an above-the-knee amputation, which she acquired in December 2024 – and he or she is now adapting to life with a prosthetic.
Ms Fay is sharing her story as a part of the Bone Most cancers Analysis Belief’s Bone Most cancers Consciousness Week, which runs from October 6 to 12, to lift consciousness of her signs and forestall others from “falling via the cracks”.
“It was an enormous shock however it felt like one of the best likelihood of dwelling a normal-ish life afterwards,” she informed PA Actual Life.
“Going into survival mode helped me to course of the analysis and keep so optimistic within the restoration interval.
“The one factor I needed was to not have most cancers anymore, and I believed as soon as it’s gone, I can take care of that.
“You do get the realisation with one thing like this that our days are numbered and we’re not all invincible.”
Ms Fay stated she began exercising with a private coach in March 2024, however over the next weeks she seen feeling an “aching” ache behind the knee of her proper leg.
“It could simply occur once I exercised however I bear in mind going for a stroll and I believed the again of my knee was actually sore,” she stated.
Mr Fay described going into survival mode put up operation, regardless that the process went as easily as doable (Accumulate/PA Actual Life)
She seen the ache acquired “progressively worse” over the subsequent few months, to the purpose her leg would harm even with gentle exercise.
On the finish of August 2024, Ms Fay was preparing for a late shift at work when she seen her leg was “swollen” and “heat to the touch”.
“I had a visual limp at the moment now as effectively, as a result of it was hurting every time I walked,” she stated.
“My colleagues seen it was swollen, they usually advised it may very well be a small blood clot in my leg.”
Ms Fay defined her intensive care ward incorporates “mini ultrasound machines”, and a marketing consultant advised doing a scan on the again of her leg.
The scan was inconclusive, Ms Fay stated, and he or she was suggested to go to her hospital’s A&E division.
There, it was thought Ms Fay may very well be affected by a muscular harm.
“I didn’t actually know any higher on the time, I believed it may in all probability be muscular – what it ended up being was so removed from my thoughts, it was unreal,” she stated.
After having a extra thorough examination on her leg, Ms Fay was informed she may have a Baker’s cyst, a fluid-filled lump behind the knee that may typically get higher by itself, in accordance with the NHS.
Ms Fay stated she was “completely satisfied” with the analysis because the signs she felt seemed to be comparable.
By November 2024, nevertheless, Ms Fay stated the ache grew to become “fixed” and he or she may now not bend her leg.
Medics informed the nurse there was no manner her leg may very well be saved (Accumulate/PA Actual Life)
“My calf was large, I feel it measured six centimetres larger than my different one,” she stated.
Ms Fay sought additional assist from her GP, who really useful she see a physiotherapist, however whereas ready for the appointment she felt one thing “was not proper”.
She as a substitute went to a walk-in well being centre, the place it was suggested she have a full ultrasound scan on her leg.
Following the scan, Ms Fay stated she was despatched to the pressing care centre at her hospital for additional examinations, and some days later she underwent an MRI scan on November 11 2024.
The very subsequent morning, on November 12 2024, Ms Fay was requested to return to obtain her outcomes, saying she thought: “Oh no, that is quickly,”
Ms Fay stated she was informed her scan had revealed a big tumour in her calf, which was regarded as major bone most cancers.
“I simply misplaced my head, there have been all kinds of mad issues going via my thoughts,” Ms Fay stated.
“I had a bit of information round most cancers and most cancers care with my work, and I couldn’t assist however assume it was a demise sentence.
“I used to be actually emotional and the worst half was figuring out I needed to go residence and inform my dad.”
She was signed off work and referred to The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in Shropshire.
Following a biopsy, Ms Fay was recognized on November 29 2024 with spindle cell sarcoma of the bone – an especially uncommon soft-tissue tumour, in accordance with the Bone Most cancers Analysis Belief.
Such tumours mostly come up in sufferers over the age of 40 and are extraordinarily uncommon, making up simply 2-5 per cent of all major bone most cancers instances, the charity says.
Ms Fay stated it took a very long time to get used to strolling utilizing a prosthetic leg (Accumulate/PA Actual Life)
Ms Fay was knowledgeable her solely viable therapy possibility can be amputation, as her blood vessels and nerves had been “fully encased” by the tumour.
“They confirmed me an image of my scan, and the tumour takes up the whole lot of my calf,” she stated.
“There wasn’t a manner they may take away it safely to go away me with a functioning leg.”
Ms Fay acquired an above-the-knee amputation on December 17 2024, and he or she stated the operation and her therapeutic course of was “very easy”.
Adapting to utilizing a prosthetic was “very troublesome”, nevertheless, and he or she initially discovered it “exhausting” to stroll quick distances.
“It’s comforting to know that is the toughest it’ll ever be,” she stated.
“As time goes on, I’ll get higher prosthetic components, a greater socket and knee joint, issues that may make it simpler.”
Ms Fay will now have a scan each three months for the subsequent two years to watch any potential recurrences of most cancers.
She has additionally returned to work, in a non-clinical setting in the intervening time, the place she seen she feels “extra emotional” following her expertise.
Ms Fay is sharing her story to mark Bone Most cancers Consciousness Week by the Bone Most cancers Analysis Belief, the UK’s main charity devoted to preventing major bone most cancers.
“If sharing my story means bone most cancers is spoken about extra inside healthcare, that’s the principle factor,” she stated.
For extra info, go to the web site for the Bone Most cancers Analysis Belief right here: bcrt.org.uk