Gemma Lodge, a 44-year-old dog day care owner from Haverhill, Suffolk, believed her sporty 16-year-old son Callum's hip and back pain were lingering effects from being hit by a van while running in July 2024. However, in January 2026, doctors diagnosed Callum with stage 4 Sclerosing Epithelioid Fibrosarcoma (SEF), an extremely rare and aggressive soft tissue sarcoma.
Accident and Initial Symptoms
In July 2024, Callum was running with a friend when a van clipped him as he crossed the road, causing ligament damage and knee problems. A body scan at the time also revealed calcium on his kidney, but he was otherwise deemed okay. By April 2025, Callum began experiencing hip pain, which rapidly worsened, leaving him bedridden with back pain within three months.
Mother's Instinct Leads to Diagnosis
Gemma requested an MRI from doctors and asked a physiotherapy client to assess Callum. After the physio wrote an urgent MRI request, Callum was referred to hospital in August 2025, where a 7cm mass was found on his spine. In January 2026, doctors confirmed stage 4 SEF, a cancer so rare that, according to the National Cancer Institute, there is little data on prevalence. Gemma said, 'It's ridiculously rare. There's probably only about two people in the country right now that's got it and Callum is one of them.'
Treatment and Family's Response
Callum had his left kidney removed in January 2026 as the sarcoma was growing there and is now undergoing immunotherapy. Because the cancer is so rare, no standard treatment exists, so the family set up a GoFundMe to cover private treatment costs if the hospital stops immunotherapy after two years. Gemma described the experience as 'your worst nightmare' and praised Callum, who is also studying for his GCSEs, saying, 'I'm so proud of him.'
