An NHS nurse whose leg was amputated after an “extraordinarily uncommon” cancerous tumour was present in her calf has spoken of getting into “survival mode” to “course of” her analysis and “keep constructive”.
Sophie Fay, 26, an intensive care nurse for 4 years, lives in Merseyside along with her father, Paul Fay, 67.
She first observed an “aching” ache behind her proper knee in March 2024. Having lately enlisted a private coach, Ms Fay initially dismissed the ache as a muscle harm.
Nevertheless, when her calf turned “swollen” and “sizzling to the touch”, and work colleagues observed the seen distinction, she sought medical assist.
After being informed her signs may very well be brought on by a blood clot or a muscular drawback, Ms Fay’s worsening pains prompted her to push for additional solutions, particularly when she discovered her proper calf was “six centimetres greater than the opposite”.
Ms Fay had her leg amputated above the knee in December 2024 (Gather/PA Actual Life)
Ms Fay had an MRI scan in November 2024, which revealed a big tumour “taking over everything of (her) calf”, and the mass was recognized as spindle cell sarcoma of the bone, an especially uncommon soft-tissue tumour.
As her blood vessels and nerves have been “utterly encased” by the tumour, Ms Fay was knowledgeable the one possibility was an above-the-knee amputation, which she obtained in December 2024 – and she or he is now adapting to life with a prosthetic.
Ms Fay is sharing her story as a part of the Bone Most cancers Analysis Belief’s Bone Most cancers Consciousness Week, which runs from October 6 to 12, to boost consciousness of her signs and forestall others from “falling by way of the cracks”.
“It was an enormous shock nevertheless it felt like one of the best probability of residing a normal-ish life afterwards,” she informed PA Actual Life.
“Going into survival mode helped me to course of the analysis and keep so constructive within the restoration interval.
“The one factor I wished was to not have most cancers anymore, and I believed as soon as it’s gone, I can cope with that.
“You do get the realisation with one thing like this that our days are numbered and we’re not all invincible.”
Ms Fay mentioned she began exercising with a private coach in March 2024, however over the following weeks she observed feeling an “aching” ache behind the knee of her proper leg.
“It will simply occur after I exercised however I bear in mind going for a stroll and I believed the again of my knee was actually sore,” she mentioned.
Mr Fay described going into survival mode submit operation, although the process went as easily as doable (Gather/PA Actual Life)
She observed the ache bought “progressively worse” over the following few months, to the purpose her leg would damage even with mild exercise.
On the finish of August 2024, Ms Fay was preparing for a late shift at work when she observed her leg was “swollen” and “heat to the touch”.
“I had a visual limp right now now as properly, as a result of it was hurting at any time when I walked,” she mentioned.
“My colleagues observed it was swollen, and so they instructed it may very well be a small blood clot in my leg.”
Ms Fay defined her intensive care ward accommodates “mini ultrasound machines”, and a marketing consultant instructed doing a scan on the again of her leg.
The scan was inconclusive, Ms Fay mentioned, and she or he was suggested to go to her hospital’s A&E division.
There, it was thought Ms Fay may very well be affected by a muscular harm.
“I didn’t actually know any higher on the time, I believed it might in all probability be muscular – what it ended up being was so removed from my thoughts, it was unreal,” she mentioned.
After having a extra thorough examination on her leg, Ms Fay was informed she might have a Baker’s cyst, a fluid-filled lump in the back of the knee that may typically get higher by itself, in keeping with the NHS.
Ms Fay mentioned she was “pleased” with the analysis because the signs she felt gave the impression to be comparable.
By November 2024, nevertheless, Ms Fay mentioned the ache turned “fixed” and she or he might not bend her leg.
Medics informed the nurse there was no method her leg may very well be saved (Gather/PA Actual Life)
“My calf was huge, I believe it measured six centimetres greater than my different one,” she mentioned.
Ms Fay sought additional assist from her GP, who beneficial she see a physiotherapist, however whereas ready for the appointment she felt one thing “was not proper”.
She as a substitute went to a walk-in well being centre, the place it was suggested she have a full ultrasound scan on her leg.
Following the scan, Ms Fay mentioned she was despatched to the pressing care centre at her hospital for additional examinations, and some days later she underwent an MRI scan on November 11 2024.
The very subsequent morning, on November 12 2024, Ms Fay was requested to return to obtain her outcomes, saying she thought: “Oh no, that is quickly,”
Ms Fay mentioned she was informed her scan had revealed a big tumour in her calf, which was considered major bone most cancers.
“I simply misplaced my head, there have been all types of mad issues going by way of my thoughts,” Ms Fay mentioned.
“I had a bit of data round most cancers and most cancers care with my work, and I couldn’t assist however suppose it was a demise sentence.
“I used to be actually emotional and the worst half was realizing I needed to go house and inform my dad.”
She was signed off work and referred to The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in Shropshire.
Following a biopsy, Ms Fay was recognized on November 29 2024 with spindle cell sarcoma of the bone – an especially uncommon soft-tissue tumour, in keeping with the Bone Most cancers Analysis Belief.
Such tumours mostly come up in sufferers over the age of 40 and are extraordinarily uncommon, making up simply 2-5 per cent of all major bone most cancers instances, the charity says.
Ms Fay mentioned it took a very long time to get used to strolling utilizing a prosthetic leg (Gather/PA Actual Life)
Ms Fay was knowledgeable her solely viable therapy possibility can be amputation, as her blood vessels and nerves have been “utterly encased” by the tumour.
“They confirmed me an image of my scan, and the tumour takes up everything of my calf,” she mentioned.
“There wasn’t a method they may take away it safely to depart me with a functioning leg.”
Ms Fay obtained an above-the-knee amputation on December 17 2024, and she or he mentioned the operation and her therapeutic course of was “very easy”.
Adapting to utilizing a prosthetic was “very troublesome”, nevertheless, and she or he initially discovered it “exhausting” to stroll brief distances.
“It’s comforting to know that is the toughest it’ll ever be,” she mentioned.
“As time goes on, I’ll get higher prosthetic components, a greater socket and knee joint, issues that can make it simpler.”
Ms Fay will now have a scan each three months for the following two years to observe any potential recurrences of most cancers.
She has additionally returned to work, in a non-clinical setting in the intervening time, the place she observed she feels “extra emotional” following her expertise.
Ms Fay is sharing her story to mark Bone Most cancers Consciousness Week by the Bone Most cancers Analysis Belief, the UK’s main charity devoted to combating major bone most cancers.
“If sharing my story means bone most cancers is spoken about extra inside healthcare, that’s the primary factor,” she mentioned.
For extra data, go to the web site for the Bone Most cancers Analysis Belief right here: bcrt.org.uk
