Latest news with #PEComa
News18
07-07-2025
- Health
- News18
Pregnant Woman Mistook Lump In The Leg For Yoga Strain. It Was 1-In-A-Million Cancer
Last Updated: While pregnant, Zoe from Bournemouth discovered she had a rare cancer called PEComa. Given months to live, she gave birth, had surgery, and continues to fight two years on The human body often conceals silent changes, and sometimes what appears minor can signal something far more serious. This was the case for Zoe Handscomb-Edwards, a young mother from Bournemouth, England, who discovered she had a rare form of cancer while pregnant, after initially believing a lump on her leg was simply a muscle strain from yoga. Zoe first noticed the painless lump, larger than a golf ball, in October 2022. Around the same time, she found out she was pregnant, which filled her with joy. Focused on her pregnancy, she dismissed the lump until a friend urged her to consult a doctor. She eventually did in February 2023. Three months later, at 16 weeks pregnant, Zoe was diagnosed with PEComa, a rare type of sarcoma that affects just one in a million people. In May 2023, while seven months pregnant, surgeons removed a 20cm tumour from her leg. A planned caesarean followed in July, and she safely gave birth to her daughter, Penelope. However, in August, a PET scan revealed the cancer had already spread. Doctors gave Zoe a grim prognosis: six months to two years to live. Reflecting on her journey, she described the diagnosis as the second worst day of her life, second only to the fear of undergoing surgery while carrying her baby. Despite the devastating news, Zoe chose to embrace life. She travelled across Europe with three-month-old Penelope and continued treatment. Two years on, she is still fighting and doing well. Now, she is using her voice to raise awareness about PEComa and the importance of getting unusual lumps checked early. First Published:
Scottish Sun
07-07-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
I was given 6 months to live after a ‘pulled muscle' in yoga class – just days after I gave birth
'I remember thinking I was going to die and I wasn't going to see Penelope grow up,' the mum said about the day she found out she might die TRAGIC DIAGNOSIS I was given 6 months to live after a 'pulled muscle' in yoga class – just days after I gave birth ZOE Handscomb-Edwards was shocked to learn a pain she thought was a pulled muscle was diagnosed as cancer. At 44, mere weeks after having her first baby, Penelope, the mum from Dorset faced a devastating prognosis - she had as little as six months left to live. 8 Zoë has been given as little as six months to live Credit: Kennedy News 8 The lump on the mum's right thigh that she initially believed to be a pulled muscle Credit: Kennedy News 8 The 44-year-old was pregnant when she discovered she had cancer Credit: Kennedy News 'It was the worst day of my life,' said Zoë, a digital marketing manager, as she remembered being told she had sarcoma, a type of cancer that starts in the bones and soft tissue. It's a fairly rare illness, with around 15 people diagnosed each day in the UK - adding up to roughly 5,500 cases annually. It all began in October 2022 when Zoë first spotted the lump on the back of her right thigh. She said: "I was in yoga with my friend, and I said 'what do you think this is?'. "The lump was bigger than a golf ball, it wasn't painful and I had no side effects from having it. "We both felt it and she said 'it feels like you've just pulled a muscle'." And then, Zoë found out she was pregnant. "It was incredible, we were so happy," she said. For "peace of mind" and so she could "focus on being a mum", Zoë decided to get the lump looked at by her GP in March. In May 2023, three months after her first doctor's appointment, Zoe was told she had PEComa, a very rare type of soft tissue sarcoma. The symptoms of sarcoma cancer including tummy pain "I was told the stats of PEComa is fewer than one in a million people worldwide each year," she said. "I remember walking out of the hospital and bursting into tears in the car park," she added. The mum was referred to the sarcoma clinic at Bournemouth Hospital in Bournemouth, Dorset, and then moved under the care of The Royal Marsden in Chelsea, London. The same month, while seven months pregnant with Penelope, Zoe underwent surgery to remove a 20cm tumour. A PET scan in August, just a month after her planned C-section, revealed the cancer had spread, defining her prognosis. "They told me I had between six months and two years to live," she said. 8 While seven months pregnant with Penelope, Zoe underwent surgery to remove a 20cm tumour Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk 8 Her daughter was born via c-section in July 2023 Credit: Kennedy News "It was another worst day of my life," she added. "I remember thinking I was going to die and I wasn't going to see Penelope grow up. "The thought of not seeing her grow up is what always gets me, but it also keeps me going. "Every moment I have with Penelope and Rob, and my friends and family is precious." What is PEComa? PEComa is a very rare type of soft tissue sarcoma that develops from the cells lining the blood vessels. PEComa, also known as perivascular epithelioid cell tumour, is a very rare sarcoma that can occur anywhere throughout the body. But, it most often occurs in the uterus, skin, liver and gut. It's most commonly associated with young to middle-aged adults. It is also far more common in women. The cause of PEComa is unknown, but researchers think that PEComa is caused by errors in genes called TSC1 and TSC2. The mum was told her treatment options were limited as there is no reatment pathway for PEComa. "Radiotherapy gave me some more time," she explained. "I said I wanted to travel so we took Penelope at three months' old, while I was on maternity leave, and did a three-week trip around Europe, which was amazing. "I'm not trying to chase down a cure, obviously if my cancer went away that would be incredible but every doctor I've spoken to has said it's incurable. "In my mind I've thrown the prognosis out of the window and I'm just living, this August will be two years and I'm doing okay." After surgery on her leg and palliative radiotherapy, Zoë is now seeking 'experimental' treatments not available on the NHS. 8 The mum after her leg surgery Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk 8 She is worried she won't see her daughter grow up Credit: Kennedy News Husband Rob Handscomb-Edwards, 37 and has launched a GoFundMe to raise money for them, to give Zoë as much time as possible with her family, including now, 23-month-old Penelope. Zoë said: "The radiotherapy bought me some time. This is how I've made peace with my cancer, we make a plan and do something that buys me more time. "Chemotherapy doesn't really help with PEComa. I've found other PEComa patients from around the world on Facebook and we share our information about what's helping them. "Unfortunately most of them are not covered on the NHS because they're considered experimental. "We're decided on a £40,000 goal for a year's worth of targeted treatment. "The outpouring of love from everybody keeps me going now it's a waiting game. It's been a really tough two years, but I've made my peace with it. "It's really important to raise awareness of rare cancers. It's so important to get any unusual lumps or bumps checked out as soon as possible." 8 Zoë and her husband Rob on their three-week trip around Europe Credit: Kennedy News
The Sun
07-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
I was given 6 months to live after a ‘pulled muscle' in yoga class – just days after I gave birth
ZOE Handscomb-Edwards was horrified to discover that what she thought was a pulled muscle was actually cancer. At 44, mere weeks after having her first baby, Penelope, the mum from Dorset faced a devastating prognosis - she had as little as six months left to live. 8 8 8 'It was the worst day of my life,' said Zoë, a digital marketing manager, as she remembered being told she had sarcoma, a type of cancer that starts in the bones and soft tissue. It's a fairly rare illness, with around 15 people diagnosed each day in the UK - adding up to roughly 5,500 cases annually. It all began in October 2022 when Zoë first spotted the lump on the back of her right thigh. She said: "I was in yoga with my friend, and I said 'what do you think this is?'. "The lump was bigger than a golf ball, it wasn't painful and I had no side effects from having it. "We both felt it and she said 'it feels like you've just pulled a muscle'." And then, Zoë found out she was pregnant. "It was incredible, we were so happy," she said. For "peace of mind" and so she could "focus on being a mum", Zoë decided to get the lump looked at by her GP in March. In May 2023, three months after her first doctor's appointment, Zoe was told she had PEComa, a very rare type of soft tissue sarcoma. "I was told the stats of PEComa is fewer than one in a million people worldwide each year," she said. "I remember walking out of the hospital and bursting into tears in the car park," she added. The mum was referred to the sarcoma clinic at Bournemouth Hospital in Bournemouth, Dorset, and then moved under the care of The Royal Marsden in Chelsea, London. The same month, while seven months pregnant with Penelope, Zoe underwent surgery to remove a 20cm tumour. A PET scan in August, just a month after her planned C-section, revealed the cancer had spread, defining her prognosis. "They told me I had between six months and two years to live," she said. 8 8 "It was another worst day of my life," she added. "I remember thinking I was going to die and I wasn't going to see Penelope grow up. "The thought of not seeing her grow up is what always gets me, but it also keeps me going. "Every moment I have with Penelope and Rob, and my friends and family is precious." What is PEComa? PEComa is a very rare type of soft tissue sarcoma that develops from the cells lining the blood vessels. PEComa, also known as perivascular epithelioid cell tumour, is a very rare sarcoma that can occur anywhere throughout the body. But, it most often occurs in the uterus, skin, liver and gut. It's most commonly associated with young to middle-aged adults. It is also far more common in women. The cause of PEComa is unknown, but researchers think that PEComa is caused by errors in genes called TSC1 and TSC2. The mum was told her treatment options were limited as there is no reatment pathway for PEComa. "Radiotherapy gave me some more time," she explained. "I said I wanted to travel so we took Penelope at three months' old, while I was on maternity leave, and did a three-week trip around Europe, which was amazing. "I'm not trying to chase down a cure, obviously if my cancer went away that would be incredible but every doctor I've spoken to has said it's incurable. "In my mind I've thrown the prognosis out of the window and I'm just living, this August will be two years and I'm doing okay." After surgery on her leg and palliative radiotherapy, Zoë is now seeking 'experimental' treatments not available on the NHS. 8 8 Husband Rob Handscomb-Edwards, 37 and has launched a GoFundMe to raise money for them, to give Zoë as much time as possible with her family, including now, 23-month-old Penelope. Zoë said: "The radiotherapy bought me some time. This is how I've made peace with my cancer, we make a plan and do something that buys me more time. "Chemotherapy doesn't really help with PEComa. I've found other PEComa patients from around the world on Facebook and we share our information about what's helping them. "Unfortunately most of them are not covered on the NHS because they're considered experimental. "We're decided on a £40,000 goal for a year's worth of targeted treatment. "The outpouring of love from everybody keeps me going now it's a waiting game. It's been a really tough two years, but I've made my peace with it. "It's really important to raise awareness of rare cancers. It's so important to get any unusual lumps or bumps checked out as soon as possible." The symptoms of sarcoma cancer The most common symptom of soft tissue sarcoma is a lump somewhere on the body. But this doesn't necessarily mean cancer - there are all sorts of reasons for lumps and swellings, but it must always be checked by a GP. The lump is usually found deep under the skin and might be felt before it can be seen. The lump is usually solid to the touch, painless and hard to move around under the skin. It will continue to grow and as it does, it can become painful. Other symptoms depend on where in the body the lump is. These can include: Tummy pain and constipation if there is a sarcoma near the tummy A cough that does not go away if there is a sarcoma near the lungs Source: NHS
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Pregnant woman who suffered common exercise injury horrified to learn she has 'golf ball sized tumour' which will kill her
A mother-of-one has told of her devastation after what she believed to be a 'pulled muscle' in her leg turned out to be a rare but aggressive cancer. The first sign something was wrong came when Zoë Handscomb-Edwards, 44, found a lump on the back of her right leg in October 2022. The digital marketing manager, from Bournemouth, was at a yoga class when her friend spotted the lump. 'The lump was bigger than a golf ball, it wasn't painful and I had no side effects. 'We both felt it and [my friend] said "it feels like you've just pulled a muscle"' she recalled. But then, Ms Handscomb-Edwards found out she was pregnant with her first child, giving her the push to get the lump looked at by a GP for 'peace of mind'. After an agonising three-month wait Ms Handscomb-Edwards was diagnosed with PEComa—an extremely rare type of soft tissue cancer—at 16 weeks pregnant. She said: 'That was so difficult, waiting every day just feeling awful and thinking "what the hell is this in my body?" 'When a doctor said "we think it's a sarcoma" that was the worst day of my life. It was absolutely horrendous. 'I walked out of the hospital and burst into tears in the carpark,' she added. After doctors at the Bournemouth Hospital identified the cancer, Ms Handscomb-Edwards was referred to The Royal Marsden in Chelsea to have the tumour removed. Doctors successfully removed the 20cm mass from the expectant mother's leg in May 2023 whilst she was seven months pregnant with her daughter. 'It was horrifying having surgery while carrying Penelope, it was so scary', she recalled. Despite the surgery being successful a scan just a few months later revealed a devastating prognosis. 'A PET scan in August, after having a planned C-section in July showed the cancer had spread. 'At the time I'd just had my baby they were telling me I could be dead in six months. They told me I had between six months and two years to live. 'I remember thinking I was going to die and I wasn't going to see Penelope grow up,' she added. Following the heartbreaking diagnosis, the young family were told that there is currently no treatment pathway for PEComa—also known as perivascular epithelioid cell tumour. Whilst surgery and multiple rounds of radiotherapy has brought Ms Handscomb-Edwards more time with her family, doctors have told her the cancer is incurable. 'The thought of not seeing Penelope grow up is always what gets me, but it also keeps me going. 'Every moment I have with Penelope and Rob, and my friends and family is precious,' she said. 'I'm not trying to chase down a cure, obviously if my cancer went away that would be incredible but every doctor I've spoken to has said it's incurable. 'In my mind I've thrown the prognosis out of the window and I'm just living, this August will be two years and I'm doing ok.' 'The outpouring of love from everybody keeps me going now it's a waiting game. It's been a really tough two years, but I've made my peace with it,' she added. Now her husband Rob Handscomb-Edwards, 37, is campaigning for better awareness of the disease and fundraising with the hopes of raising £40,000 for a year's worth of targeted treatment. 'Chemotherapy doesn't really help with PEComa. I've found other PEComa patients from around the world on Facebook and we share our information about what's helping them,' Ms Handscomb-Edwards explained. 'Unfortunately most of them are not covered on the NHS because they're considered experimental', she added. 'But it's really important to raise awareness of rare cancers and get any unusual lumps or bumps checked out as soon as possible.' According to cancer charity Sarcoma UK, PEComa is a very rare type of cancer that can occur anywhere throughout the body and develops from the cells lining the blood vessels. The cancer most commonly affects young to middle-age women and is usually found in the uterus, liver and gut. Common symptoms include a lump or swelling in the soft tissue of the body under the skin, abdominal pain and unexplained weight loss If the cancer is growing within the female reproductive system, it can cause vaginal bleeding. PEComa is currently thought to affect less than one in one million people worldwide each year. Whilst the cause of PEComa is still unknown, researchers think that the cancer is caused by errors in genes called TSC1 and TSC2.
