08 January 2024 , 15:35
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A mum has shared her devastating ordeal of being diagnosed with a rare terminal cancer just weeks after she was given the all-clear.
Stephanie Thomson, 34, was previously diagnosed with extrarenal rhabdoid tumours, a rare "one in a million" cancer. The mum-of-one, from Glasgow, Scotland, says she began experiencing "shooting pains" in her groin, before finding a "pea-sized" lump at the top of her right thigh.
Stephanie was given an initial diagnosis back in September 2022 and went through 14 months of intense chemotherapy treatment, along with two major surgeries. She was officially declared cancer-free in October 2023, but a few weeks before the turn of the new year, she was told her cancer was back - this time she was told it was terminal.
Speaking to NeedToKnow.co.uk, the mum said: "The news came as an absolute shock, especially days before the holiday season. My whole life has changed once again. I was once a bubbly, outgoing and sociable person, but now my life is just cancer and nothing else. I'm terrified, especially for my son, as he is my entire world and my whole life has been focused on him. The thought of him not having a mum anymore is too much to think about."
The mum was officially declared cancer free in October 2023 (Jam Press)
Stephanie's cancer returned and spread to her lungs, lymph nodes and chest (Jam Press)Stephanie, once an award-winning hairdresser, first thought the lump was "fatty tissue" but still sought out a second opinion. By January 2023, she was undergoing five types of chemotherapy and had major surgery to remove the primary tumour, along with part of her pelvis bone and two large stomach muscles.
Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him
She said: "I feared I never would be able to walk again and the recovery was so hard and traumatic. When I completed my last chemotherapy, I thought I had won. I felt a weight lifted and such relief, but then a scan found small metastases near my right lung. I had them removed and then rang the bell - a day I thought never would come."
During a routine check-up, medics confirmed the cancer had returned and had now spread to her lungs, lymph nodes and chest. Since this type of cancer is usually found in children, little is known about adult cases and treatment is limited. Stephanie is currently in hospital undergoing emergency chemotherapy to help slow down the progression of her condition.
The mum is also raising awareness to warn others of the signs to look out for and hopes to make the most of the time she has left with her loved ones. Stephanie, who is mum to Logan, 18, added: "My main focus is on finding the right treatment which will prolong my life and give me as much time as possible with my son and family. We're trying everything possible to slow down the spread and my family is researching worldwide for other treatments.
“My message to anyone is that you know your own body - check it over as cancer has no boundaries. This can happen to anyone and I never expected at only 34 to be told I don't have much time left. Live life to the fullest, as it's so short. I know I will never be cured, but I hope to get some extra years with my son before my time is up."