I was doing face mask when I noticed swollen eye before shock diagnosis & had to have it REMOVED
Sara McGarvey first noticed her right eye was swollen when she did a face mask one night in January 2023.
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Sara McGarvey pictured with her son Michael
Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media
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She was diagnosed with a rare cancer in 2023
Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media
The senior social worker brushed it off until discussing the symptoms with concerned colleagues the next day who pushed her to visit an eye clinic.
After a CT scan, MRI scan and two biopsies, Sara was diagnosed with undifferentiated round cell
By that point the tumour, which was located in the top corner of her right eyelid, had caused Sara's eyeball to 'turn sideways' and bulge further and further out of her head.
The mum-of-one feared 'she was going to die' and underwent five gruelling rounds of chemotherapy in a desperate attempt to shrink the cancer.
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After the chemotherapy was unsuccessful, Sara had surgery to remove her right eyeball, as well as the tumour, in November 2023.
To ensure that the cancer had been removed completely, Sara underwent seven weeks of proton beam therapy at The Christie Hospital in Manchester in February 2024.
The 36-year-old rang the bell to signify the end of her treatment on April 12th 2024 and received the news that she was cancer free in May 2024.
Sara credits her colleagues with 'saving her life' as they pushed her to visit the eye clinic.
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Now cancer-free for more than a year, Sara is encouraging anyone who finds a lump or anything unusual to visit their doctor as soon as possible and not wait to get it checked.
'GRIM'
Sara, from Co Down,
"It got progressively worse between January and April [2023]. It didn't necessarily move out, it kind of turned.
"It got progressively worse and it took six months to get an actual diagnosis.
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"For sarcoma that's relatively fast - people wait years for a diagnosis and by that stage it's too late.
"I remember lying there in silence in the bath one night. I turned off the taps and it was just quiet. There was no noise - I didn't put any music on.
"I remember just saying 'please don't let me die, please don't let me die'.
"At the time the chemo wasn't attacking the tumour, it wasn't getting smaller and it wasn't getting bigger, so they decided that surgery would be the best option."
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On November 30 2023, Sara underwent surgery to have the tumour removed, along with her right eye.
Sara said: "At the time I didn't care that my eye was going to be removed, I just wanted rid of the cancer.
"I just needed it to be gone.
"My son was two at the time so to see me one day with two eyes and then the next day with one was probably quite difficult for him, but he managed it extremely well.
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"I'm very lucky, I've had my son, my husband Andrew, and my mum Mary, who's a nurse - if it wasn't for her then it would have been so much more difficult."
'INDESCRIBABLE RELIEF'
Sara says that being there to see her son Michael McGarvey, now aged four, grow up was her main concern and she was 'overjoyed' when she was given the all-clear in May 2024.
Sara said: "I can't even describe it. It's indescribable relief.
"I think for me a lot of my fear and anxiety was around Michael.
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"When I was first diagnosed, my head went to protecting him and making sure that he was impacted as little as possible by what was going to happen next.
"The fact that I could just go home and hug him and kiss him and play with him and be happy and healthy and watch him grow up and go to primary school.
"These are all of the things that for a period of time I didn't think I was going to be able to do.
"I was overjoyed, I was excited about what the future held."
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'SAVING HER LIFE'
Sara credits her colleagues with 'saving her life' - and each year on the anniversary of a diagnosis she thanks them over text for pushing her to go for the check-up.
Sara said: "If my friends at work didn't make me go to be seen [at the eye clinic] things could have been so different.
"The sarcoma had the potential to grow very quickly and spread very quickly and if it wasn't caught when it was caught, the outcome would have been very much worse.
"Every year on the anniversary of my diagnosis I text them to say thank you.
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"They did absolutely save my life, 100 per cent, it was massive."
WHAT IS UNDIFFERENTIATED ROUND CELL SOFT TISSUE SARCOMA?
Undifferentiated round cell soft tissue sarcoma is an extremely rare form of sarcoma.
It can start almost anywhere inside the soft tissue of the body including muscles, fat, blood vessels, ligaments and tendons.
The most common symptom is a lump somewhere on your body which is usually solid to the touch, painless and hard to move around under the skin.
Soft tissue sarcomas are usually treated using surgery and radiotherapy.
Sara, who is now in the process of seeing a specialist doctor to have a prosthetic eye fitted, is encouraging anyone else who finds a lump to go to their doctor.
Sara said: "When I had the surgery to remove it I didn't want Michael to be afraid of how I looked.
"They used the top eyelid to close it over but then in February it started to open, which is why I now have a big hole.
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"I have my first plastics appointment next week.
"Initially I was told I might not be eligible for a prosthetic but the consultant thinks they can make me one, which is exciting.
"Michael starts primary school this year in September so being able to look normal for him going to school is something I'm really, really excited about.
"If anyone has a lump I'd say see a doctor straight away. Don't wait because I would have waited and then it could have been so much worse."
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Sara is now in the process of seeing a specialist doctor to have a prosthetic eye fitted
Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media
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The cancer pushed her eye out of the socket
Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media
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'And of course, when it impacts your enjoyment in the bedroom and intimacy with your partner, it is very difficult.' 16 Leanne's multiple sclerosis symptoms started with issues with her speech, vision and mobility Credit: Jam Press/@leanne_fighting_ms 16 She also had extreme fatigue, restless legs and seizures Credit: Jam Press/@leanne_fighting_ms 16 One of Leanne's seizures caught on camera Credit: Jam Press/@leanne_fighting_ms Advertisement 16 The mum, from South Wales, with her sons in May 2022 Credit: Jam Press/@leanne_fighting_ms Leanne knew about her MS before meeting Adam in 2023, though she had no idea it would affect her After meeting the carpenter, they had an intimate relationship, but this soon dwindled. Leanne's GP confirmed her MS was likely the cause. In 2024, Leanne was also diagnosed with Like MS, there is no cure. Advertisement To find others suffering like her, the mum turned to TikTok where she found more people who have seen their sex life fall off a cliff thanks to MS. What is multiple sclerosis (MS)? Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex condition that affects the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. It's an autoimmune disease, meaning the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the protective coating (myelin) around nerve fibres. This disrupts the flow of electrical signals and causes a range of symptoms that can vary wildly from person to person. The good news? MS isn't a death sentence, and with advances in treatment, many people live full and active lives. In the UK, over 150,000 people are living with MS, and around 7,100 new cases are diagnosed each year, according to It's typically diagnosed in people in their 20s and 30s, with women three times more likely to develop it than men. Despite its challenges, many with MS find strength and resilience they never thought possible. Common symptoms of MS are: Fatigue: Not your average tiredness—this is bone-deep exhaustion. Vision problems: Blurred or double vision, or even temporary vision loss. Numbness and tingling: Often in the face, arms, or legs. Muscle weakness: Making everyday tasks feel like climbing a mountain. Mobility issues: Trouble walking or balancing. Cognitive difficulties: Memory lapses or a 'foggy' brain. Spasms and stiffness: Muscles that just won't cooperate. Bladder and bowel problems: A less glamorous but common challenge. MS is unpredictable—you might have periods of remission where symptoms vanish, followed by flare-ups when they return. This 'on-again, off-again' nature can be frustrating and means people can be in anticipation of a flare. While there's no cure yet, treatments like disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), physiotherapy, and lifestyle changes can help manage symptoms and slow progression. Leanne says: 'I've heard from so many sufferers that have told me their partners have left them over it as they didn't realise MS could cause this. 'They simply assumed their partner didn't find them sexually attractive anymore. 'Because of the nerve damage to the brain and spine, the signals needed for arousal, sensation and orgasm are no longer there. It creates a disconnect. 'For us women, there's issues with low sex drive, lack of sensation and lubrication and pain. Advertisement 16 In 2024, she was also diagnosed with functional neurological disorder Credit: Jam Press/@leanne_fighting_ms 16 Leanne shares her experiences, including seizures, on social media Credit: Jam Press/@leanne_fighting_ms 16 Leanne had no idea multiple sclerosis would affect her sex life Credit: Jam Press/@leanne_fighting_ms 'There's been many times my partner could've walked away, but he says we are a team. 'He knows the severe change is because of my MS and the full extent of life with it. Advertisement 'I spoke with an MS neurologist in front of him about the issues we were having in the bedroom and he understood that it's not him, it's my brain. 'Now, we have sex a few times a week – but he knows when not to try his luck. 'Adam has helped me realise it's nothing to do with me or him, it's just my condition so it's mind over matter.' 16 Leanne, who volunteers at her local hospital, was having weekly injections to help manage her symptoms, as well taking disease-modifying medication. Advertisement Now, though, she has decided to go completely drug-free in a bid to combat the conditions naturally. The mum also gives those suffering a voice about how it impacts people's dating lives through her social media. She adds: 'I had a number of male sufferers message to thank me for discussing it as a few of them had lost partners over it. 'They find it hard to talk about due to pride or shame. This is why it's so important to raise awareness. 'It's such a debilitating and lonely life. Advertisement 'I want people to know that even though it feels like a prison sentence, it's not. 'You've got to work with it, not against it, as there's so much to live for.' What is functional neurological disorder? FUNCTIONAL neurological disorder is a 'brain network disorder,' according to UK charity FND Action. The brain is unable to send and receive messages correctly, affecting all parts of the body. Some symptoms, particularly if not treated, can result in substantial disability. Treatment includes 'retraining' the brain with specialised physiotherapy, distraction techniques and psychotherapy. But some 70 per cent of sufferers have the same or worse symptoms ten years later. The exact causes of FND are unknown. Symptoms can appear suddenly after a stressful event or with emotional or physical trauma, including a head injury, migraine, surgical procedure or vaccination. It can occur as a result of several factors working together, for example, the brain shutting down after perceiving a threat or trying to avoid pain as well as a genetic vulnerability to the condition. It is estimated that up to 120,000 people in the UK have FND, and there are a further 10,000 new cases per year, according to The Brain Charity. But most people have never heard of it. 16 'I've gone from walking three miles every day to almost being bedridden,' Leanne says. Credit: Jam Press/@leanne_fighting_ms 16 Leanne and Adam now have sex a few times a week Credit: Jam Press/@leanne_fighting_ms 16 She often has leg spasms which make her whole body shake Credit: Jam Press/@leanne_fighting_ms Advertisement 16 The brain scan which revealed Leanne's MS (as shown by white spots) Credit: Jam Press/@leanne_fighting_ms 16 Leanne having treatment in hospital Credit: Jam Press/@leanne_fighting_ms
