Identical twins suffer SAME cancer symptoms – even though only one of them has the disease
Identical twins suffer from the same cancer symptoms, despite only one of them having the disease.
Sophie Walker, from Edinburgh, was diagnosed with a Wilms tumor – a form of kidney cancer – in 2017 at the age of 10.
In the six years since, the now 16-year-old has gone into remission three times — but unfortunately, he relapsed for the fourth time in December.
During this time, her twin sister Megan has experienced many of the same symptoms, including stomach and back pain, paleness, and weight loss.
Megan even underwent a “head-to-toe” MRI scan – which came back completely clear – with doctors calling the phenomenon a “twin thing.”
Sophie Walker (left, pictured with her twin sister Megan), then age 10, was diagnosed in 2017 with a Wilms tumor – a form of kidney cancer
During Sophie’s battle with cancer, Megan (right) has experienced many of the same symptoms, including stomach and back pain, pallor and weight loss
Megan (right) even underwent a ‘head-to-toe’ MRI scan – which came back perfectly clear – with doctors calling the phenomenon a ‘twin thing’
Rebecca Walker, the girls’ mother, said: ‘When Sophie was first diagnosed, Megan had all the symptoms. People say she looks sick all the time – she’s even paler than her sister.’
The mum of ten added: “Every test under the sun has been done on her and there is absolutely nothing wrong with her. It’s so bizarre.’
Wilms’ tumor is a form of childhood kidney cancer, which most commonly affects children under the age of five.
It is named after Dr. Max Wilms, who first discovered it, and about 90 children are diagnosed each year in the UK. In the US, there are 500 to 600 cases each year.
Sophie was diagnosed on October 25, 2017 after experiencing “stomach-like cramps.” She underwent four weeks of chemotherapy and surgery to remove the tumor.
After another 27 weeks of chemotherapy, Sophie went into remission in April 2018.
But in January 2020, a routine MRI showed “something worrying” about her spine.
A doctor told Ms Walker that Sophie’s first biopsy had seeded on her spine – meaning the needle inserted into Sophie’s first tumor had dislodged and spread cancer cells.
The Covid pandemic delayed further treatment – surgery and a three-week course of radiotherapy – but Sophie went into remission again in January 2021.
She then relapsed in December of that year and underwent chemotherapy until May 2022.
In November, Sophie went into remission for the third time, but after a checkup just a month later, doctors said her results were ‘not good’.
Sophie was diagnosed with a Wilms tumor on October 25, 2017, after experiencing “stomach bug-like cramps.” She received four weeks of chemotherapy and surgery to remove the tumor
After another 27 weeks of chemotherapy, Sophie went into remission in April 2018, but in January 2020 a routine MRI showed ‘something worrying’ about her spine
Mrs Walker said: ‘We went to see Sophie one day and was told by the consultant that she didn’t feel anything there.
“But the next day we were called back in. All the consultant could say was that the results were ‘not good’ – and she started to cry.
“Sophie saw the look on her face and just broke down, for the first time in six years.”
Sophie’s father, Jamie Walker, 44, left the room with Sophie to comfort her, while Ms Walker stayed with the counselor to ask further questions.
She said, “I was told to take her and reminisce, as long as she’s still good enough.”
Since the news, Sophie’s consultant has said she can have the tumor on her spine operated on – by a team of consultants, oncologists, pediatric surgeons and plastic surgeons.
Despite this ‘little bit of hope’, Sophie still struggles ‘deeply’ with health anxiety and depression and Megan feels ‘exactly the same’.
Mrs Walker said: ‘Megan just can’t handle it if Sophie isn’t there. We have a big family and everyone takes care of each other, but Megan is having a hard time.’
Sophie and Megan have eight siblings – James, 20, Emily, 19, Ruthie, 17, Daniel, 13, Olivia, 11, Emma, nine, Nathan, eight, and eight-month-old Evan.
A doctor told Ms Walker that Sophie’s first biopsy had seeded on her spine – meaning the needle inserted into Sophie’s first tumor had dislodged and spread cancer cells.
In November, Sophie went into remission for the third time, but after a checkup just a month later, doctors said her results were ‘not good’
“While the elderly in the house tend to the young, Megan stays by Sophie’s side in the hospital, sometimes until 3am,” Ms Walker added.
“She won’t leave her until she says, “I’m tired, I want to go to sleep.”
“During Covid she wasn’t allowed to see Sophie because Jamie and I were her two named visitors. She couldn’t handle it.
“Once those restrictions were lifted a bit, Megan wanted to see Sophie again.”
When Sophie relapsed in January, Megan also volunteered for a ‘head to toe’ MRI scan.
“Nothing showed up, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with her,” Mrs. Walker explained.
‘Consultants tell me it’s just a ‘twin thing’ – which I find completely bizarre. I’ve never heard of identical twins getting sick at the same time, while one isn’t even sick itself.’
Experts have rejected the theory that twins can feel each other’s physical pain. But they suggest that their strong empathy for each other may explain the physical reaction.
The Walker family currently runs one GoFundMe to raise money for proton therapy in New York – after surgery in Scotland on a date to be confirmed.
The GoFundMe has raised £21,526 so far.