When Sarah McAnena began experiencing persistent back pain, she assumed it was simply a pulled muscle from her busy life as a mother. Like many would, she visited her GP expecting routine advice about rest and pain relief.
"I was told time and again it was probably muscular, just to take painkillers and rest," Sarah recalls. "But the pain kept getting worse, becoming absolutely excruciating."
The Shocking Discovery
After months of suffering and multiple doctor visits, Sarah's persistence paid off when she was finally referred for scans. The results were devastating: what she thought was simple back pain was actually stage 4 kidney cancer that had spread to her spine.
"Hearing those words - 'you have cancer' - was utterly terrifying," Sarah shares. "I went in thinking I had a muscle strain and came out with a life-changing diagnosis."
A Hidden Danger
Kidney cancer is particularly insidious because it often presents with few or no symptoms in its early stages. When symptoms do appear, they can be easily mistaken for more common, less serious conditions.
Common kidney cancer symptoms include:
- Persistent back or side pain
- Blood in urine
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
Fighting Back Against Cancer
Despite the advanced stage of her diagnosis, Sarah has undergone successful surgery to remove her kidney and is receiving ongoing treatment. Her experience has made her passionate about raising awareness of kidney cancer symptoms.
"If my story helps even one person push for further investigation when something doesn't feel right, then some good will come from this," Sarah says. "Don't be afraid to seek second opinions if your gut tells you something's wrong."
Her message to others experiencing persistent symptoms is clear: "Trust your body. You know when something isn't right. Be persistent with doctors and don't dismiss ongoing pain."
