Mother diagnosed with rare cancer after emergency surgery

Summarised from Manchester Evening News's report · Updated 26 Oct, 08:31 · Archive

A 38-year-old woman was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma, a rare cancer, after emergency surgery to remove a ruptured fibroid.

Heather Hackney, 38, began experiencing severe abdominal and pelvic pain shortly after giving birth to her son in 2019. An ultrasound found a mass on her pelvis, which was diagnosed as a fibroid. Her pain continued, and in August 2020 she passed out at home and was rushed to hospital by ambulance.

She underwent emergency surgery two days later to remove the fibroid, which had ruptured. Four weeks after tissue samples were sent for testing, she was told she had been diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma, a rare type of cancer. She said the diagnosis was 'a complete shock' as she had expected a routine follow-up appointment.

Hackney had a radical hysterectomy to remove her ovaries and womb in September 2020, followed by four weeks of radiotherapy. She now has yearly check-ups to monitor for any changes, particularly small nodules found on her lungs. She is also dealing with menopause as a long-term consequence of the hysterectomy.

Read the report

• New mum, 38, who went to doctors expecting 'routine' follow-up left in complete shock by rare diagnosisHeather Hackney is now urging people to get checked following her rare diagnosisManchester Evening News · 26 Oct, 07:47

In this story: Heather Hackney · Manchester

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