I was diagnosed with cancer 6 weeks before giving birth – doctors dismissed the warning signs as pregnancy symptoms

A mother who was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 23 has revealed doctors initially put her symptoms down to pregnancy.

Poppy Brown, now 28, from Sussex, was diagnosed with atypical Ewing sarcoma – a form of primary bone cancer – in April 2019 when she was 34 weeks pregnant with her daughter Bella.

She discovered a lump in her jaw and suffered from headaches and fatigue, but after visiting the doctor several times, she was sure she was just having normal pregnancy symptoms.

Speaking to FEMAIL, she revealed that she actually felt ‘relieved’ when she finally got her diagnosis, after months of trying to get doctors to pay attention to her symptoms.

She said: ‘Before I was diagnosed, I worked abroad without any worries. I met my partner Tom while I was there and quite soon after we met I got pregnant and it just felt right. We moved back to Britain and I thought we would have a nice, normal family life.

‘Until I was diagnosed, I didn’t even know you could get cancer in your bones or soft tissues.

‘I believed until my diagnosis that it couldn’t possibly be cancer as I was only 23. I thought it was just a really hard pregnancy.

‘As strange as it sounds, it was such a relief when I was diagnosed. I had to fight to get someone to believe me.

‘As a pregnant woman I got the feeling that I was a nuisance. It was a relief that I wasn’t crazy. I was 34 weeks pregnant at the time.’

Poppy started chemotherapy three weeks after the birth of her daughter Bella.

Sarcomas are rare cancers that occur in the body’s supporting problems, including bones, cartilage, tendons, fat and muscle.

Uncommonly, it is most common in teenagers and young adults.

Symptoms include swelling and the area becoming painful when touched.

Poppy’s own symptoms started in November 2018, when she was about 12 weeks pregnant.

She started having severe headaches, despite never having had them before, but the doctors put this down to her pregnancy.

In January, when she was about five months pregnant, she discovered a lump in her jaw, which she assumed was a wisdom tooth.

Poppy continued: ‘I then started experiencing nose bleeds and fatigue on top of the headaches, but the doctors just said they were normal pregnancy symptoms.

‘Shortly afterwards I found a spot in my nose. It kept getting bigger and soon it was blocking my airways inwards. Doctors didn’t know what the growth was at first.’

Poppy went to the doctor several times because of the growth of her nose before she was referred to an ENT doctor.

Poppy said: ‘I thought this would be the moment I got all the answers, but they had no idea what it was. I had a biopsy and had to wait about six weeks for them to find out what it was. I went to A&E a few times because I was so sick and I was always left feeling like I couldn’t cope with the pregnancy and ‘just had a headache and had to take paracetamol’.

‘I tried Googling my symptoms with the growth in my nose and the most common answer was polyps. Nasal cancer did occur, but it was more common in men over 60 years of age.

‘After a biopsy they determined that I had cancer.’

Poppy was treated at the Teenage Cancer Trust unit of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester. Both units are dedicated to 16-24 year olds, championing the needs of young people with cancer and providing specialist expertise and care.

Despite spending more than 150 nights in hospital and experiencing the horrific side effects of the treatment, such as mouth ulcers and feeling sick and tired, Poppy tried to remain as normal as possible and organized a baby shower.

‘There’s no good time to have cancer, but I’m glad I was treated at a Teenage Cancer Trust Unit and not an adult unit. I received such great support.

‘I also had my mother, my partner Tom and daughter Bella by my side. We really were an A-team. With Bella, there was a reason to get up. She was the reason to endure the treatment and smile. She saved my life.’

Poppy was given the ‘all clear’ certificate in February 2020 and has recently received a four-year follow-up treatment, ‘all clear’, with checks every six months. She lives happily in Sussex with Tom and Bella.

Poppy is sharing her story as part of the Teenage Cancer Trust’s World Cancer Day campaign to raise awareness of signs and symptoms.

The five most common signs of cancer are lumps, bumps and swellings, unexplained fatigue, changes in moles, persistent pain and weight change.

A new survey from the Teenage Cancer Trust, carried out ahead of World Cancer Day, shows that only 17 per cent of 13-24 year olds know all five of the top warning signs of cancer in young people.

She said: ‘Of the five most common signs of cancer, I thought two of my symptoms were cancer related: lumps and changes in moles. It’s ironic that I actually found a lump and cancer was never considered. I thought I had problems with my wisdom teeth.

‘I would encourage other young people to be persistent if you notice changes in your body. You know yourself, so trust your feelings and allow yourself to be examined.’

Dr. Louise Soanes, lead nurse at Teenage Cancer Trust, said: ‘These symptoms don’t necessarily mean you have cancer, but it’s very important to get checked if you notice these changes in your body – especially if they last for a while. while and you cannot explain them.’

Louise added: ‘It’s normal to be nervous before talking to a doctor or nurse. If you feel like you can’t take the first step yourself, it may be a good idea to talk to someone you trust first.

‘There are things you can do to prepare for a doctor’s appointment, such as writing down your questions in advance, making a list of your symptoms and when you started feeling unwell, bringing someone with you to the appointment and reminding you be aware that You can ask doctors to explain something in a different way if you don’t understand it, or even ask for another doctor to talk to you.’

For more information, visit: teenagecancertrust.org/5signs