Latest news with #sarcoma
The Sun
2 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
My wife's incurable cancer started with a ‘Mounjaro side effect' – now she's got months left to live
A MUM thought symptoms of her incurable cancer were a side effect of Mounjaro weight loss jabs - now she's been given months to live. Dawn Clegg, 51, began suffering from chest pain in late March this year after taking the jabs to help deal with her diabetes. 10 10 10 The mum eventually went to A&E for her chest pains. She had several X-rays at the hospital, which showed shadows on her lungs, kidneys, and breast. Dawn was later diagnosed with a rare soft-tissue cancer known as sarcoma. She was told the growths on her breast and kidney were benign, but the one on her lungs was sarcoma, which makes up just one per cent of all known cancers. There are more than 100 known sarcomas and Dawn's doctors have been unable to precisely identify the type she has - making treatment challenging. Dawn was given less than a year to live. Now her heartbroken husband Arron Clegg, 51, is planning to hold a "living wake" in November to celebrate the life of his wife. Arron said: "She went to Lancaster Hospital A&E at the end of March with chest pains which she thought were a side effect of Mounjaro which she was taking to help with her diabetes. "X rays showed shadows on lung, kidney and breast. "We were devastated on hearing news of cancer in these areas - there is no cure and she is now terminal. I thought my sore knee was a drunken injury but it was cancer at 27 "The wake will mean she can spend quality time with friends and family whilst still alive rather than after the funeral that way she can see how much people care about her." Dawn, a receptionist with Bay Medical Group who's mum to 19-year-old George, started taking Mounjaro to help with her diabetes. When she noticed tightness in her chest, she initially thought it was a side effect from the jabs. Chest pain isn't a known side effect of Mounjaro, which can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. 10 In late March, Dawn went to Lancaster Hospital A&E in the hopes of finding out what was causing her chest pain. She had multiple X-rays, which found shadows in her lungs, breasts, and kidney. The next day Dawn was "called back" to hospital where they were informed the growths could be cancerous. Tests which showed the cancer on her breast was benign and her kidney "wasn't a big issue", but she was given the "devastating" news that the cancer on her lungs was sarcoma. 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 Sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that develops in the supporting tissues of the body, including bone, cartilage, tendons, fat, and muscle. Arron said: "The doctors don't even know what type of sarcoma it is four months later. "Sarcoma makes up 1 per cent of known cancers and on top of that there are over 100 sarcomas, so finding the right treatment is extremely hard. "She is now terminal and there is a high chance she won't make her fifty-second birthday next year." Dawn began receiving chemotherapy at Clatterbridge in Liverpool but Arron has said "there is more chance of it not working than slowing it down". Following Dawn's diagnosis Arron is now hoping to organise a "living wake" – a joyful celebration of her life surrounded by friends and family while she is still with them. Arron hopes to invited around 100 of his wife's closest family and friends to enjoy a final evening together. Arron said: "Dawn means the world to me. "We went to school together and started dating after we found each other years later and have been married nearly 10 years. 'Dawn is an amazing person; not very patient and yet with this illness she has surprised us both with her patience whilst they tried to find a treatment. "She is the best person I ever knew and the wake will mean the world to her." Arron has started a crowdfunding to help pay for the costs of the wake, which will take place on November 29, and Dawn's funeral. When the time comes, Dawn will be laid to rest near her late daughter Isobel, who died in childbirth. You can visit Arron's GoFundMe here. 10 10 10
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Mum given less than a year to live after taking Mounjaro jab scare leads to diagnosis
A mum has been struck with the UK's most uncommon, incurable cancer following chest discomfort she initially attributed to Mounjaro injections. Dawn Clegg, 51, started experiencing the pain in late March this year after using the injections, which aided her diabetes management. However, a series of X-rays at the hospital revealed shadows on her lungs, kidneys, and breast, leading to a diagnosis of a soft-tissue cancer known as sarcoma. She was informed that the tumours on her breast and kidney were benign, but the one on her lungs was a sarcoma, accounting for merely one per cent of all cancers. Read more: LEGO school essentials include water bottle so 'perfect' all family members own With over 100 known sarcomas, doctors have yet to pinpoint Dawn's specific type, leaving her without a viable treatment option. Her devastated spouse, Arron Clegg, also 51, is now planning a 'living wake' in November to honour his wife, who has been given less than a year to live due to Britain's rarest cancer. Arron shared: "She went to Lancaster Hospital A&E at the end of March with chest pains, which she thought were a side effect of Mounjaro, which she was taking to help with her diabetes. "X-rays showed shadows on the lung, kidney and breast. "We were devastated on hearing news of cancer in 3 areas - there is no cure and she is now terminal. "The wake will mean she can spend quality time with friends and family whilst still alive rather than after the funeral that way she can see how much people care about her." Dawn had been using Mounjaro weight loss injections to manage her diabetes but started experiencing chest tightness, which she initially thought was a side effect. In late March, Dawn sought answers for her chest discomfort at Lancaster Hospital A&E. She underwent several X-rays that detected shadows on her lungs, breasts, and kidney. However, the following day, Dawn was "called back" to the hospital where they disclosed that the shadows were malignant. Further tests indicated that the breast cancer was benign and the kidney issue was minor. Yet, she received the "devastating" diagnosis that the lung cancer was sarcoma. Sarcoma is an uncommon cancer that forms in the body's connective tissues, such as bone, cartilage, tendons, fat, and muscle. Arron shared: "The doctors don't even know what type of sarcoma it is four months later. "Sarcoma accounts for 1% of known cancers and with over 100 sarcomas, pinpointing the correct treatment is incredibly challenging. "She is now terminal and there is a high chance she won't make her 52nd birthday next year." Dawn commenced chemotherapy at Clatterbridge in Liverpool, but Arron has been informed "there is more chance of it not working then slowing it down". Following Dawn's grim prognosis, Arron is keen to arrange a 'living wake' – a celebration of her life with loved ones while she can still be part of it. Arron is planning to gather roughly 100 of his wife's nearest and dearest for one last cherished evening together. Arron shared: "Dawn means the world to me. "We went to school together and started dating after we found each other years later and have been married nearly 10 years. "Dawn is an amazing person; not very patient and yet with this illness she has surprised us both with her patience whilst they tried to find a treatment. "She is the best person I ever knew and the wake will mean the world to her." In due course, Dawn's farewell will continue with a service at Lancaster and Morecambe Crematorium, where she will be peacefully laid to rest beside her beloved daughter Isobel, who tragically passed away during childbirth. Dawn, who works as a receptionist at Bay Medical Group, is also a proud mother to George, her 19 year old son who is currently pursuing film production at university in Leeds. Arron has since initiated a crowdfunding effort to cover the expenses of the wake and funeral, scheduled for November 29, 2025. Supporters can contribute to Arron's fundraising online here:
Daily Mail
13-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Tessa bumped into a classmate during school sport at 16. But her 'sore shoulder' was a sign of something far more sinister going on in her body...
When 16-year-old Tessa McHugh brushed shoulders with a classmate during a casual game of school sport, she didn't think twice about it. 'It was just a little bump,' the now-25-year-old, from Adelaide, told FEMAIL. 'But the pain in my shoulder wouldn't go away.' What started as a dull ache soon became something far more serious. The initial bump had highlighted a sinister growth lurking in her body. 'I mentioned it to Mum in passing and she felt a large lump on my shoulder blade,' she recalled. A routine GP visit quickly turned into a series of scans and tests. Within two weeks, doctors delivered devastating news: Tessa had stage-two chondrosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer. 'I'd never even heard of sarcoma, let alone chondrosarcoma,' she said. 'It was confronting and distressing to hear that at 16.' Unlike other cancers, chondrosarcoma is notoriously resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The only treatment is surgical removal of the tumour, and in Tessa's case, it wouldn't just be one operation. Just six weeks after her diagnosis, she underwent her first surgery at Adelaide's Women's and Children's Hospital. Surgeons performed a subtotal scapulectomy, removing a large portion of her shoulder blade and surrounding muscle. 'The pain was a persistent ache,' she said, 'and it affected how much I could move my arm.' But that was just the beginning. Complications followed the initial surgery, and Tessa underwent two more operations to manage damage from the invasive procedure. And then came the unthinkable: the cancer returned. Not once, but three times. Each time, it was discovered during routine scans. This meant going back into hospital and preparing for yet another surgery. Between January 2016 and March 2018, Tessa endured six major surgeries, spaced just months apart. 'There were definitely lots of moments when I was really tired and frustrated,' she said. 'I'd just heal from one surgery, and then I'd have a scan that showed another tumour.' Despite the emotional toll, she never hesitated to continue treatment. 'Knowing that surgery was my only option, I just had to keep going,' she said. While many teenagers worry about exams and friendships, Tessa was navigating hospital corridors and post-op recoveries. But school became her anchor. 'School was something normal while all of these medical things were happening,' she explained. 'It gave me a sense of consistency. I actually enjoyed going when I was able.' Teachers and friends rallied around her, and her close-knit family were by her side every step of the way. 'My mum, dad, older brother and uncle - who is a medical professional - were my biggest supports,' she said. 'They were always there for appointments and helped out when my arm was in a sling.' It's now been nearly a decade since her diagnosis, and Tessa has learned to live with the long-term effects of her surgeries. 'I can't really lift my arm above my head,' she said. 'So a lot of over-the-shoulder movements are out. But I focus on what I can do, not what I can't.' She's careful not to overstrain herself, adjusting her daily routine to suit her physical limits. 'The human body is amazing,' she reflected. 'I've adapted.' Growing up, she was an avid horse rider - a passion that had to be put on hold. 'After surgery, there's always a long recovery period. I had to be really mindful about healing before doing anything too active.' But throughout her recovery, nature and animals became a source of comfort. Living on a large property, Tessa found peace in the outdoors. 'I've always been connected to nature. Spending time with my pets and being outside was really important for my mental health.' That deep connection to healing eventually shaped her future. Today, she works as a provisional psychologist, helping others navigate trauma and hardship. 'Cancer doesn't define who I am,' she said. 'But it has shaped my perspective and values. Going through it during adolescence - when you're still figuring out who you are - has had a huge impact.' Though she's in remission, Tessa continues to have yearly scans. She'll reach her 10-year milestone in 2028, after which regular checks will stop. Until then, the fear of recurrence still lingers. 'The anxiety that it's going to come back is very real,' she said. 'Because it already did - three times.' And while she's been told the tumour may have been growing for up to nine months before diagnosis, there were no warning signs until that fateful bump at school. 'I had no idea anything was wrong,' she said. 'It just felt like a sore shoulder.' Tessa hopes her story encourages others to listen to their bodies and seek help when something doesn't feel right. She also wants young people going through cancer to know they're not alone. For Tessa, that strength was forged through pain, persistence, and the love of family, nature, and community. She may not lift her arm above her head anymore, but she holds her head high. In line with Sarcoma Awareness Month (July) ANZSA is calling on people to register for The Great Sarcoma Plankathon, a national fundraising event to support sarcoma research by planking for 60 minutes across the month. Funds raised through the Plankathon will go directly towards sarcoma research and clinical trials co-ordinated by ANZSA, with the aim of improving survival rates and quality of life for those diagnosed.
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
BreakingNews.ie
22-06-2025
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
What you need to know about sarcoma – the cancer you've never heard of
When most people think of cancer, names like breast, lung, or prostate cancer instantly come to mind. However, there's another, lesser-known form called sarcoma that affects thousands of people in the UK every year, yet rarely makes headlines. Despite its relative obscurity, it's one of the most aggressive and challenging cancers to diagnose and treat. Advertisement Ahead of Sarcoma Awareness Month (July), we got in touch with Helen Stradling, head of support and healthcare professional engagement services at Sarcoma UK, to find out exactly what sarcoma is, why awareness is so low, and what some of the early symptoms are… What is sarcoma? Sarcoma refers to a broad group of cancers that start in the bones and soft tissues. Photo: Alamy/PA. Sarcoma is a type of cancer that can appear anywhere in the body and everyday 15 people in the UK are diagnosed with it, according to Sarcoma UK's website. 'In terms of breast cancer, lung cancer and bowel cancer, it's very obvious where they come from, whereas the word sarcomas doesn't really tell you anything,' acknowledges Stradling. 'Sarcomas are cancers of the bits and pieces that put us together, like nerves, bones, blood vessels and fat cells.' There are many different subtypes of sarcomas, but they are generally grouped into two main categories. Advertisement 'The main types are sarcomas of bone and sarcomas of soft tissue,' explains Stradling. 'The most common soft tissue sarcomas are the GISTs (gastrointestinal stromal tumours), liposarcomas and leiomyosarcomas, and in the bone sarcomas, the ones we tend to hear the most about are the osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcomas.' Why have many people never heard of sarcomas? 'I think it all comes down to the rarity of it,' says Stradling. 'We diagnose about 5,300 sarcomas in the UK every year, so it's very unlikely when somebody gets a sarcoma diagnosis that they've known somebody else that's had one. 'It's also not the type of cancer that you see spoken about very often in the media. A lot of people that get a sarcoma diagnosis have never heard of sarcomas before.' What are the symptoms? View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sarcoma UK (@sarcoma_uk) 'The main sign of a soft tissue sarcoma is a lump that you can see that is changing or growing,' highlights Stradling. 'Benign lumps are really common, but anyone who has a soft tissue lump anywhere on the body that is growing and changing needs to get that checked out.' Whereas, the main symptom of bone sarcomas is bone pain or swelling that tends to be worse at night. Advertisement 'There's a lot of reasons for joint and bone pain, but if you've got bone pain that you can't put down to any kind of injury, that is not relieving itself with painkillers or anything like that, and the pain wakes you at night, that's a red flag sign,' emphasises Stradling. However, GISTs sarcomas tend to be harder to identify. 'GISTs are a little bit more tricky, because you can hardly ever see anything from them,' says Stradling. 'It's more likely to show up with more subtle signs like bloating or blood in your vomit or stools. 'If you have got any these symptoms and you are being pushed back from healthcare professionals that you're seeing, we would urge you to keep going. If you are really concerned that it could be a sarcoma, mention the word to the professional so that it is something they can consider or start investigating.' Advertisement How is it diagnosed? Diagnosis of sarcomas usually start with an ultrasound or an X-ray. Photo: Alamy/PA. 'It usually starts with somebody either seeing their GP, a physio or a nurse and a lot of time it will be a soft tissue lump that's growing or bone pain,' says Stradling. 'With soft tissue sarcomas we tend to start with an ultrasound and with bone sarcomas we start with X-ray. 'If there's any concern that it might be something more sinister, the patient then has an MRI scan. But most importantly, once that MRI scan is done, we must get a biopsy, because with there being so many different subtypes, we need to know exactly which one we're dealing with to know which is the best treatment for you to have.' Like most forms of cancer, sarcomas can be found at different grades and are much easier to treat if you catch them early before they spread. 'The sooner we can get these diagnosed the better,' says Stradling. 'We know that getting patients into seeing the specialist teams and getting them started on treatment as soon as we can makes a huge positive difference for outcomes.' The primary focus of Sarcoma Awareness Month is to encourage earlier diagnosis and to improve treatment options for those affected by this disease. Photo: Alamy/PA. How is it treated? The primary treatment for sarcomas, both soft tissue and bone sarcomas, is surgery. The goal is to remove the tumour, along with a margin of healthy tissue to minimise the risk of recurrence, according to Sarcoma UK's website. Advertisement 'We really need to get the them at a size where we can do a surgery that isn't going to leave somebody with life-limiting mobility or not being able to do everything that they want to do,' says Stradling. 'We want to avoid the stage where the tumours have already spread, because then the treatments that we've got are limited.' Sarcomas can also be treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, often alongside surgery. 'We do use chemotherapy and radiotherapy for a number of sarcomas, but in a lot of the cases, we don't use them until they've already spread because we know that they're not as effective as we would like them to be,' explains Stradling. 'However, this is slightly different with the younger people that get the bone sarcomas, as they do tend to start with chemotherapy as a kickoff treatment. But in most cases, surgery is the first thing that needs to happen.'
