TT A heartwarming story: Ewing’s battle with bone cancer during pregnancy: Poppy Stewart-Brown’s journey of hope and resilience.

In 2019, at just 23 years old and 34 weeks pregnant, Poppy Stewart-Brown was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma in her jaw.

Her journey began in November 2018, when she experienced fatigue, sickness, nosebleeds, headaches, and blood clots in her mouth. Initially, her GP attributed these symptoms to normal pregnancy changes.

Despite repeated visits and increasing discomfort, Poppy was often made to feel like a nuisance and was told her symptoms were minor.

By February 2019, Poppy noticed a growth in her nose that made breathing difficult. She was referred to the Ear, Nose, and Throat department at Brighton and Sussex University Hospital, where an MRI scan raised the possibility of cancer for the first time, though the medical team reassured her that it was most likely benign.

In March, Poppy discovered a lump on her upper left jaw, which her dentist attributed to wisdom tooth pain. Subsequent consultations and a biopsy at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London finally confirmed the diagnosis of atypical Ewing sarcoma.

As her symptoms worsened, Poppy faced a complex medical situation. She developed severe sinusitis, which led to sepsis, making it difficult to breathe and delaying treatment.

Her obstetrician arranged a caesarean section to safely deliver her daughter, Arabella, two days before Poppy was admitted to hospital with critical symptoms.

On April 26, 2019, Arabella was born healthy, six weeks early, becoming Poppy’s source of hope throughout the ordeal.

Immediately after delivery, Poppy underwent surgery to debulk the tumour.

Her treatment continued with intensive therapy, beginning with nine cycles of VDC/IE chemotherapy at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London.

She then received 31 rounds of proton beam therapy over seven weeks at The Christie in Manchester, followed by five additional cycles of chemotherapy.

The treatment was grueling, often leaving her neutropenic and requiring hospital admission.

Poppy calculated she spent 130 nights away from Arabella during this period, a separation that was emotionally taxing.

Despite the challenges, Poppy persevered. Today, she has no active disease and attends follow-up appointments every three months.

While she experiences lingering fatigue—likely compounded by parenting a young child—she remains determined and grateful for the unwavering support of her family and friends.

Reflecting on her experience, Poppy emphasizes the importance of listening to one’s body, advocating for oneself, and raising awareness about rare cancers like Ewing sarcoma.

She notes the difficulty she faced being young, pregnant, and dismissed by medical professionals before her diagnosis.

Poppy’s story highlights the need for vigilance, early detection, and the courage to fight for proper care, even in rare and complex medical cases.

Her journey is a testament to resilience, maternal love, and the power of hope in the face of life-altering challenges.