Emma Hodges faced a tough journey with misdiagnoses before finally learning she had cancer, leading to extensive treatment and recovery.
Balham: Emma Hodges, a 28-year-old, had quite the ordeal. She noticed a lump in her groin and thought it was just an ingrown hair. But after several visits to the doctor, it turned out to be something much more serious.
Initially, doctors dismissed it as an abscess, then a blood clot, and later a cyst. But Emma knew something was off when the lump grew alarmingly. After multiple surgeries, she finally got the diagnosis: cancer.
It was a rare type of soft tissue Ewing sarcoma. Emma was shocked but also relieved to finally have an answer. She had heard of sarcoma before, thanks to a friend who had raised awareness about it.
After scans revealed the tumor was pressing on her organs, doctors decided on a plan. They started with chemotherapy to shrink the tumor before surgery. And it worked! The tumor shrank from 40cm to 12cm.
In October 2022, she had surgery to remove it, followed by more chemotherapy. Thankfully, she’s been cancer-free since February 2023. Emma had to pause her life and move back home for support during her treatment, which was tough on her and her family.
She shared how grueling the chemotherapy was, spending days hooked up to a machine. But it also brought her family closer together. They rallied around her, organizing fundraisers for Sarcoma UK, which helped her feel supported.
Reflecting on her experience, Emma wishes doctors had considered other possibilities sooner. She knows being young and healthy doesn’t mean you can’t get cancer. Sarcoma UK emphasizes the need for better awareness among healthcare professionals to help others avoid similar struggles.
