Charlene's Story

I went to my gp with a small lump in my upper arm, they were not concerned so I left it not thinking much about it.

It was only during my pregnancy a few months later I felt like the lump was getting bigger so I went back to my gp with my concern and they sent me for a ultrasound.

My gp called me 2 days later and said they had sent an urgent referral through to sarcoma center in owestry she advised that it was still likely nothing to worry about.

I went and met a consultant where I had both anhad mri and ct done, again they said they didn't think it would be what it was so decided to do a biopsy.

I was called back around 10 days later and told that it was infact soft tissue sarcoma this was April, I was sent for a pet scan this showed the sarcoma in my arm and an uptake In my thyroid I was in so much shock I had 4 children at home my youngest being just 4 months old.

I had my surgery to remove the tumour on 6th of May (my birthday) the consultant said I had good margins but that the biopsy showed that the sarcoma was ultra rare CIC DUX4 round cell sarcoma and I was referred to Christie’s for more treatment.

Once I met with the team at christies it sunk in how serious my diagnosis was with extremely high reoccurring and spread rate even with treatment I agreed to do everything I could to prevent this from returning I did 7 rounds of ifosfamide, mesna and doxirubcin as an inpatient every 3 weeks it took a tremendous toll on both me and my family.

Once the chemo was finished I then has 35 sessions of radiotherapy I completed my treatment in November.

during treatment the nodule that showed in my pet scan on thyroid was biopsied and came back I also had papillary thyroid cancer which was another massive blow. I went in for thyroid removal surgery last week.

I have now face 3 monthly checks with ct and mri and so far so good its been a rough journey but im hopeful and positive for the future

Thank you to Ben Saunders Foundation for this much needed escape.