The family of a woman described as 'one in a million' is reeling from a devastating loss after a routine eye test revealed a rare and aggressive cancer, leading to her death just weeks later.
Clare Rapley, a 38-year-old mother from Bicester, Oxfordshire, visited her local optician after experiencing persistent watering in her right eye. What she believed to be a minor irritation was actually a symptom of a far graver condition.
A Devastating Diagnosis
Opticians discovered a worrying shadow behind her eye and immediately referred her to the hospital for further investigation. Scans and a subsequent biopsy delivered the heartbreaking news: Clare had a highly aggressive sinonasal carcinoma, a rare cancer affecting the sinuses.
The tumour was so advanced that treatment options were severely limited. Her family was told the cancer was inoperable.
A Rapid and Heartbreaking Decline
The speed of the cancer's progression was shocking. Clare began experiencing severe symptoms, including loss of smell and taste, and a blocked nose. Within a matter of weeks, the vibrant mum's health deteriorated rapidly.
She was admitted to the Sir Michael Sobell House hospice in Oxford for end-of-life care, where she passed away surrounded by her loving family, leaving behind her heartbroken partner and young son.
A Family's Tribute to a 'Beautiful Soul'
In a moving tribute on a fundraising page, her sister expressed the family's profound grief: "Our beautiful Clare... was one in a million. She was the most amazing mummy to Arthur and the best little sister and daughter we could have asked for."
The family is now raising funds for the hospice that provided Clare with compassionate care in her final days, hoping to support other families facing similar tragedies.
This tragic case highlights the critical importance of seeking medical attention for persistent symptoms, no matter how minor they may seem.
