A WOMAN whose worrying symptoms were thought to be “stress and anxiety” has been diagnosed with cancer.
Saskia Clark, 24, was in good health – rarely drinking, never smoking and keeping active – when she started suffering chest pain last spring.
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But with a history of anxiety and struggles with fatigue, she says doctors initially thought something simple was at play, exacerbated by her long working hours.
After “countless appointments”, they finally found the more sinister cause, and Saskia was diagnosed with a rare form of thyroid cancer.
“It was really scary,” the social media manager, based in Manchester, said.
“I was really angry to begin with that it had taken so long to find.
READ MORE ON THYROID CANCER
“But I was also weirdly relieved, just to know that I wasn’t going crazy all that time.
“I had known 100 per cent that something was wrong.”
Saskia – who is documenting her story on TikTok – says her diagnosis came in August, 18 months after she first raised concerns in May 2023.
“It was frustrating as I’ve had anxiety my whole life and I tried to explain that this didn’t feel like anxiety,” she added.
“After pushing this [point], the doctors referred me to a cardiologist and told me to try a ton of wellness things.
“I tried everything – yoga, meditation, sound baths, acupuncture, reflexology – and even gave up alcohol for eight months in the hopes it would do something.
“But the chest pain was still there.”
Saskia’s first appointment with a cardiologist was in November, where she underwent a 24-hour ECG.
She claims she didn’t hear back until March, when a consultant ordered an exercise test and an echocardiogram – an ultrasound of the heart and nearby blood vessels.
All of the tests came back clear, but soon Saskia was developing other troubling symptoms relating to her bowels.
She was referred to a colorectal consultant, where she underwent a full-body CT scan.
A week later, she was asked to urgently come in for a chat.
DEVASTATING DIAGNOSIS
She said: “A doctor showed me my lungs from the CT scan and there were multiple lumps visible on my windpipe.
“It was really bizarre to see as I’ve never smoked and never had trouble breathing.
“To learn that something is in your body without you knowing is a feeling I can’t describe.”
Biopsies were taken, along with a bronchoscopy – a camera examining the inside of the lungs and airways – and blood tests.
A week later, Saskia learned the devastating news that the biopsies had detected medullary thyroid cancer.
You know your body better than anybody else and if something feels wrong, keep pushing for answers
Saskia Clark
Prior to her diagnosis, she says she led a healthy lifestyle.
“I’ve been fatigued since I can remember but I’m active; I don’t drink a lot, I’ve never smoked or vaped, I eat relatively healthily and I prioritise my wellness,” Saskia said.
“Being so young and so ‘normal’, it’s so hard to wrap your head around it.
“But also in a way, I always knew something was wrong, so it also makes sense now.
“The hardest thing is when I look at photos of myself two months ago and realise that in that moment I had cancer, and I had no idea.
“Life really comes at you fast.”
Know your body
By Eliza Loukou, Health Reporter
At the end of the day, you know your body best.
If you feel like something is wrong or you’re experiencing symptoms that are unusual to you, speak to a GP – and push for answers if you feel like you aren’t being listened to.
It can also be helpful to have a good idea of what’s normal for your body, so you can spot strange symptoms quickly.
An example of this is your bowel habits.
A change in the amount of times you go to the loo or the consistency of your poop are often caused by something you’ve eaten.
But if these changes persist for over three weeks, they’re worth bringing up with your GP.
The same goes for persistent bloating, or even fatigue.
If you’ve been feeling bloated for three weeks or more and changes in your diet don’t seem to be doing the trick, speak to a doctor about it.
The same goes for if you’re tiredness just doesn’t seem to be going away.
You might hesitate to see a GP about your period, but you should definitely do so if your periods become heavier, irregular or more painful.
These are just a few examples of subtle changes to your body that are worth raising with a health professional.
They may not be anything to worry about, but getting them checked could lead to you getting vital treatment for a condition early.
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Saskia is currently undergoing tests to determine what the best plan of treatment will be.
Having spent months advocating for herself and pushing for answers, she is now sharing her story in the hopes of prompting other people to follow suit.
She has also taken to TikTok to document her experience, where her posts have garnered over a million views.
Saskia said: “I think it’s so incredibly important to vouch for your own health.
“Since talking more openly about this experience on TikTok, I’ve had so many people who feel similar or have been dismissed with similar experiences.
“I want to use this opportunity to encourage people to advocate for their health and have the confidence to challenge the system.
“You know your body better than anybody else and if something feels wrong, keep pushing for answers.”
What is medullary thyroid cancer?
THERE are many different types of thyroid cancer.
Most start in the follicular cells, but a small number start in the C cells. These are called medullary thyroid cancers.
This type of cancer is rare. About a quarter of cases are caused by an inherited faulty gene which runs in the family.
Medullary thyroid cancer can spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver or lungs.
The most common symptom is a mass or lump in the neck, which may be painful.
But people can also experience:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Problems breathing
- A hoarse voice, pressure
- Discomfort in the neck
- A red face
- Diarrhoea
- Weight loss
Source: Cancer Research UK
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