A UK mother diagnosed with a rare cancer during the pandemic is urging people to get checked and advocate for themselves. Heather Hackney, 38, from York, was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma in August 2020 after experiencing severe abdominal pain following the birth of her son in 2019.
Diagnosis after emergency surgery
After an ultrasound found a mass on her pelvis, Hackney was initially diagnosed with a fibroid. However, her pelvic pain continued, and in August 2020 she passed out at home. Rushed to hospital by ambulance, she had emergency surgery two days later to remove the fibroid, which had ruptured.
Four weeks after a tissue sample was sent for testing, Hackney attended an appointment where she learned she had leiomyosarcoma. She said: "We were in the middle of the pandemic so I'd gone to the appointment alone, expecting a routine follow-up appointment. The cancer diagnosis was a complete shock."
Treatment and recovery
In September 2020, Hackney underwent a radical hysterectomy to remove her ovaries and womb, followed by four weeks of radiotherapy to tackle the tumour. She now has yearly check-ups to monitor for changes, particularly small nodules found on her lungs.
She said: "It was a lot to deal with in a short space of time. There was the impact of having cancer but also the impact of the treatment. I'm in menopause following my hysterectomy, so there are long-term implications of that to deal with, especially at a young age. I now have regular checks of my bone density and am on treatment to make sure it doesn't deteriorate."
Rare cancer awareness
Leiomyosarcoma is a rare type of cancer that is rarer in pre-menopausal women. According to the NHS, it develops in smooth muscle cells, which cause organs to contract without control. It is most commonly found in the limbs, abdomen, uterus, and retroperitoneum, and mostly affects adults, being very rare in people under 20.
Hackney said the support of charity Sarcoma UK has been invaluable, and she believes further study and research into the condition is important to help others in the future. She added: "The odds of sarcoma are small, but always get something checked if it doesn't feel right, and advocate for yourself."
