Sarcoma Awareness Month July 2022: "You know your body best" - Local man thriving after successful treatment
Posted 12th July 2022
Tom Street, 25, from Wavertree was 18 when he first started having symptoms that turned out to be a rare form of cancer called a Ewing Sarcoma that was treated by experts at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.
Just after his 18th birthday, Tom started experiencing pains in his chest as well as a shortness of breath that for someone young and healthy, he knew wasn’t normal. Following a chest x-ray, his GP first treated him for suspected pneumonia but as the antibiotics didn’t work and the pain got so severe, Tom ended up in A&E where he had another chest x-ray that showed an increasing growth between the two scans.
Despite feeling poorly for almost six months, Tom never expected to be diagnosed with cancer.
“I was young, fit and healthy and preparing to head off to university – having cancer never crossed my mind as a possibility. I knew something was wrong but neither me, my family nor my friends had even heard of a sarcoma before I was diagnosed with one.
“It was a horrible experience to be having at a time when my mates were all off on holidays or going to Uni but throughout treatment, when I felt good towards the end of cycles, I tried to get with life as normal and my friends would always plan pub trips or trips out for when I could join them.”
Tom had an initial six rounds of chemotherapy at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre’s Wirral site before having surgery to remove the sarcoma at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital and then another eight rounds of chemo back at Clatterbridge before being discharged.
Tom said: “Cancer at any age is daunting but going into the hospital for the first time and seeing people, mainly older and visibly unwell, having chemotherapy made it really hit home for me but being on the Teenage and Young Adult (TYA) Unit at Clatterbridge was really reassuring and welcoming.
“The team there were all fantastic – Dr Ali talked everything through so well and you just know that everyone there is a specialist in what they do so the care you’re getting is excellent.
“My cancer nurse specialist, Lucy Jane Taylor, repeatedly went above and beyond for me – especially when I had an infection during treatment, she made sure I was looked after where I was comfortable and really put my needs first - as well as making sure I got to home for a Christmas dinner when I was an inpatient!”
“I can’t thank the whole Clatterbridge Cancer Centre team enough.”
Since completing treatment and getting the all clear, Tom has completed his undergraduate studies at Leeds Beckett University and is now back in Liverpool where he is due to complete his Masters in Real Estate at Liverpool John Moore’s University.
Dr Nasim Ali, Consultant in Medical Oncology at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, said: “It’s fantastic to hear that Tom is going from strength to strength since finishing his treatment with us and we’re really proud that he’s been able to complete his studies and is realising his ambitions.
“Sarcoma is a rare cancer that can be more common in younger people than other cancers and because symptoms can often be vague at first, can often be overlooked – particularly when someone is otherwise young, fit and healthy.
“If you have any symptoms, particularly a pain or swelling that isn’t going away, I would encourage you to see your GP and explain you are worried. As with other cancers, the earlier we find a sarcoma, the more treatment options there are available and the higher the chances are of making a full recovery and living well afterwards.”
Symptoms of a sarcoma can include:
- bone pain – this may get worse over time and may be worse at night
- a lump or swelling that is growing over time, especially if greater than 5cm, which may or may not be tender
- a swelling in the tummy (abdomen)
- feeling tired all the time
- unintentional weight loss
Affected bones may also be weaker and more likely to break with some people then going on to be diagnosed after having a fracture.
