Very often, we procrastinate and put important things, like regular doctor checkups, off and we only realize the consequences of our actions when it is too late.
A young woman named Cheryl Murray noticed a tiny lump on her foot when she was just 15. At the time, doctors brushed it off as something not serious, believing she torn a ligament following a slip and fall.
Cheryl herself didn’t think it was anything serious although it grew to the size of a golf ball over the course of ten years.
When Cheryl started dating her boyfriend David, she was too embarrassed to tell him about the lump but he noticed she had issues with her leg and confronted her about it.
“David asked me what was wrong with my foot. I replied that it was torn ligaments, but he could tell it wasn’t, that it was more serious,” Cheryl recalled.
“I was ashamed of it,” she admitted while talking to Daily Mail.
As expected, he urged her to see a doctor, and she finally listened.
Once at the hospital, doctors ran a bunch of tests and the results were worrying. The lump turned out to be cancer affecting the connective tissue. The X-rays, a biopsy, and an MRI all indicated Cheryl had sarcoma.
Since Cheryl waited too long before seeking help, it was too late for anything to be done and her leg needed to be amputated to her knee in an attempt to prevent the cancer from spreading further.
“I never ever believed it would be anything severe,” she stated. “I was hysterical, I was so shocked I could not speak. I seemed like I had actually been typed the face two times in one day.”
She’s now sharing her story in an attempt to raise awareness of the importance of visiting a doctor when something doesn’t seem right, even if that’s something we believe is not harmful.
As explained by the Cleveland Clinic, sarcoma is an uncommon type of cancer that develops in the body’s connective tissues—such as muscles, tendons, fat, blood vessels, and nerves. It can occur in many areas of the body, though it most often begins in the arms or legs.
The exact cause of sarcomas isn’t fully understood. However, they are seen more frequently in adults, particularly in those who have previously received radiation or chemotherapy for other cancers. There are several forms of sarcoma, including:
- Osteosarcoma, which affects the bones
- Chondrosarcoma, which develops in cartilage
- Ewing’s sarcoma, which starts in the bone marrow
Because symptoms can differ depending on where the tumor forms, these cancers are often difficult to recognize early on. Some warning signs may include:
- Persistent swelling that doesn’t go away
- Lumps or deformities in bones or under the skin
- Chronic pain in a specific area
- Muscle weakness or loss of mobility
- Changes in walking or coordination
Cheryl’s experience is a strong reminder to pay attention when something doesn’t feel right. She was fortunate—her life was saved, but only after she chose to trust her instincts and her now husband’s urging to see a doctor.
“10 years I’ve been fighting the good fight 🎗️Soft tissue sarcoma is such a rare cancer and unfortunately one that…
“If I hadn’t shown him the lump, I probably would’ve ignored it even longer,” she said.
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Bored Daddy
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