3 days ago
Pontypool's Sarah Mayers has terminal synovial sarcoma cancer
52-year-old Sarah Mayers from Trevethin has terminal synovial sarcoma cancer and was recently given just one year to live.
Sarah is currently in the process of putting in a complaint against Pontypool Medical Centre and says GPs aren't diagnosing sarcoma in time.
Synovial sarcoma is an aggressive cancer that typically develops in the soft tissues near joints and tendons, particularly in the arms and legs.
Sarah undergoing chemotherapy treatment whilst fighting against sarcoma (Image: Sarah Mayers) Speaking about her experience Sarah said: 'I went to the doctors with pins and needles, and they passed it off as arthritis and fibromyalgia.
'If this had been picked up earlier it, would it have saved my life. We could have possibly removed most of the tumour, but they couldn't remove the tumour because it had grown.
'The two friends that I made in Velindre one was told she had IBS and the other something to do with her ovaries. I think by the time they pick up it's either spread or too late.'
Sarah and her husband together before she had cancer (Image: Sarah Mayers) Sarah first visited the doctors back in March 2024 after experiencing numbness in her shoulder.
She was told she would need an X-ray and was referred to a physiotherapist.
In May she fell over the family dog and believed she had broken a rib. This resulted in breathing difficulties and another visit to the doctors in June.
The van which Sarah is travelling in to raise awareness (Image: Sarah Mayers) She told the Argus: 'They sent me away give it time to heal as it could be a broken rib and then I couldn't breathe taking the dogs for a walk like I normally do.'
Later the same month after waiting 18 hours in the Grange A&E for a chest X-ray, she heard the word "cancer" for the first time.
Soon after in October she received a letter from the NHS confirming her diagnosis.
Since this, Sarah has undergone extensive chemotherapy treatments, but her prognosis remains the same.
Sarah's badges raising awareness about sarcoma (Image: Sarah Mayers) Accepting this has been overwhelmingly difficult Sarah explained: "People have been really supportive they say to me they can't get over how I handle it.
'My husband he couldn't focus and me I suppose I was in denial. I still am now when people say to me, they can cure it part of me thinks that but in the back of my head I know they can't it's hard to take in.
'It makes me angry I just want to get the awareness out there all last week I was trying to get it set up.'
Sarah and her husband in the van together (Image: Sarah Mayers) July is Sarcoma Awareness Month. In preparation for this Sarah has set up a website with informative information that'll help people spot the signs of Sarcoma.
Alongside this, Sarah and family have been experiencing different weekend trips in a minibus decked out with customised stickers centred around Sarcoma.
She's been making the most of her time left and has gone on a helicopter ride, is planning a trip to Ireland and recently booked a cruise with her sister.
Sarah making the most of life on a helicopter ride (Image: Sarah Mayers) A GoFundMe set up by Sarah's son in law has also been created to help give Sarah and her family the quality time together they deserve.
So far, £165 has been donated.
Sarah said: 'We bought a six-seater bus and a van, and it's got customised stickers on the side we plan to go off in that.
'We also raised money by selling badges that's gone mad and raised money for Velindre as some family members did the three peaks in Abergavenny raised money that way.
'Everyone is behind me 100%.'
The medical centre declined to comment on this matter.
