Doctors dismissed my knee pain as a ‘sprain’ – it was actually a giant tumor and that’s how I knew it was serious

A young woman has urged patients not to take no for an answer when they are unhappy with a diagnosis – after her leg pain, which was dismissed as a ‘sprain’, rare type of tumor.

Ashley Christine, based in Los Angeles, said she had not been able to walk for more than a month due to pain in her leg. Doctors initially dismissed it as physical injury.

But the science communicator, artist and author said she knew that wasn’t the case in a TikTok clip that has been viewed nearly 2 million times so far.

When she first went to the doctor, she was told she had probably “torn a ligament,” also known as a sprain.

“I know pain, and I know injuries, and I thought, no, it’s not a torn ligament or a broken bone, something is really wrong,” she said.

Ms Christine accused doctors of downplaying her concerns because she ‘looks young and healthy’.

Finally, after several weeks and repeated visits to the doctor, she persuaded a doctor to book her for a detailed MRI scan of her leg.

The shocking image is revealed in the clip, which shows a large mass in the limb, which Ms Christine says is a giant cell tumor.

Giant cell tumors are rare and usually develop in the long bones such as the arms and legs. In Britain, it is estimated that only 30 cases are diagnosed each year.

The vast majority of these tumors are benign growths, meaning they don’t spread to other parts of the body like cancer, but they can still cause problems because they grow quickly, damaging bones and other tissue.

Ms. Christine went on to explain that she had even more difficulty getting an appointment with an oncologist, a specialist in cancer care.

‘Then I am told that I cannot see a doctor about him until January 30th. That is unacceptable,” she said.

Because she described a “complete nervous breakdown” on the phone to the medical assistant, she was eventually booked to see the doctor on Christmas Eve.

“I’m crying because I’m damned,” she said, pointing again to the white mass on the scan image.

“He looked at this and said, ‘We need to get this out as quickly as possible.’

Ms Christine said a biopsy is scheduled in the coming days to find out whether the tumor is cancerous and needs further treatment, or if planned surgery to remove the tumor is sufficient.

“Friendly reminder to always push them because they think you’re faking it,” she urged her followers.

According to the charity Sarcoma UK, giant cell tumors are usually diagnosed in people aged between 20 and 45.

The most common symptoms are pain, swelling and bone fractures caused by the bone becoming structurally weaker.

Surgery is usually preferred, although powerful medications can also be used to shrink the tumor.

This is typically only used as a last resort in otherwise inoperable cases due to concerns about long-term side effects.

Patients who have giant cell tumors removed typically have regular follow-up appointments and scans over the next few years to check whether the tumor has returned.