A teacher who thought she was pregnant after she went up two dress sizes was astonished when she was diagnosed with a rare ovarian tumour- the size of a MELON.
Sophie Martin, 27, initially thought she was pregnant when she went from a size 10 to a 14 in a matter of months.
She was even hospitalised suffering agonising pain, but paramedics thought Sophie was suffering from an ectopic pregnancy.
But she was shocked when a scan and a biopsy revealed she had a germ cell tumour of ovary which measured 15cm by 14cm – the size of a melon.
Just 60 women are diagnosed with the rare fast-growing tumour in the UK each year and primary school teacher Sophie is now having chemotherapy.
Engaged Sophie, from Holsworthy, Devon, said: “I thought ‘how did that fit in there?’ but it does explain why my stomach was was bloated and why I needed to go to the toilet so often.
“My appetite was also really small, but I had put on a couple of dress sizes. Since I have come home from the operation I have noticed a significant difference.
“I can now get my size ten dresses back on.
“Now I want to raise awareness of the symptoms, because even the doctors didn’t realise early on.
“I remember how I felt when I first heard the word ‘cancer’ but that doesn’t have to be a death sentence and these days there is so much that can be done.
“Having cancer has made me review things and it’s made me realise what the important things in life are.”
Sophie had started suffering painful periods and bleeding last year and went to see her doctor, who put it down to a stressful job.
By October, she was suffering severe abdominal pain that no painkillers would cure and felt bloated and uncomfortable.
But pregnancy tests came back negative – and Sophie was on the pill.
In December, after further visits to her GP, it was suspected she was suffering from a cyst and Sophie was referred for an ultrasound which appeared to confirm the diagnosis.
But before the appointment she was in such pain and had such an swollen tummy her fiancee Liam dialled 111 and a paramedic was sent to her house, on January 28.
She was admitted to North Devon District Hospital over fears she may be suffering a burst cyst or an ectopic pregnancy, but further investigations revealed the germ cell tumour.
“I had all these thoughts going through my mind like is it going to be terminal or am I going to be poorly,” she said.
“I couldn’t really take it on board. After the shock of hearing it was cancer, I was told how rare it was. I was told it was very treatable, but it was still a shock to hear.
“When they told me only around 60 women are diagnosed with this cancer every year, I remember my mum saying ‘trust you to be different.’
“It was actually a bit of a relief to finally find out what was wrong.”
She endured a two-hour operation to remove the tumour, and started chemotherapy on February 22.
Sophie, who is due to complete treatment on April 25, and is writing a blog about her experience, to raise awareness.
“Before all this I would never put together my symptoms and realise it was cancer,” she said.
ENDS
