I am a 32-year-old mother of one, and in October 2019 my life changed when I was diagnosed with a very rare Ewing’s Sarcoma of the womb. I had been having some issues with the mirena coil, I was very bloated, and I found that I was going to the bathroom more often than usual. I went to have the coil removed and the Doctor suggested an ultrasound scan. It was then found that I had a “degenerated fibroid.” From then on I experienced heavy bleeding and because of my discomfort the fibroid was surgically removed.
Two weeks later I was to receive my shock diagnosis, not only did I have cancer, but it had grown back very fast and even bigger. It was a further three weeks before Ewing’s sarcoma was diagnosed. Further tests showed that it had metastasized to the nearby lymph node. I had two weeks from this point before I started treatment and this is when I really read up on sarcoma. Until my diagnosis I did not know anything about it. I researched charities, support networks, and I found that there are actually only 48 reported cases in the world of Ewing’s sarcoma being in the womb. At times I have found it hard, as there is no one (I can find) who I can speak to who has had their cancer in the same place as me.
I started intense chemotherapy two weeks after my final diagnosis. I am still in treatment, I have so far completed 10/14 chemotherapy cycles, my tumour has had a great response and I am due to start 30 days of radiotherapy. In April this year, I had a full hysterectomy which was a success. Chemotherapy has at times been tough and I have been hospitalised four times with neutropenic sepsis. But I am so determined to beat this, each time I am knocked down it makes me get back up even stronger.
I have a positive attitude towards my illness and I honestly feel that this has got me through the majority of my treatment and had given me hope that I will beat this. Also my little girl is the driving force behind my fight and my determination to win this battle.
Having cancer in the middle of pandemic has been a challenge. It has meant attending treatment alone and shielding at home in between treatment which has at times felt quite isolating. I am scared of getting covid-19, but as I write this I am in hospital recovering from neutropenic sepsis and I could not feel safer.
If I can get through this, I can get through anything else that is thrown at me in this life.
