A mum-of-two who was re-diagnosed with cancer months after being given the all-clear said the tumour 'felt like she was pregnant'.
An urgent fundraising campaign has been launched for Sam Broadbent, reports Leicestershire Live .
The 27-year-old was an active married mum-of-two who held down a full time job near her home in Lutterworth when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in January last year.
Months after being given the all-clear she was told an aggressive inoperable tumour had developed in her pelvic region.
The mum of Jacob, four, and Sienna, two, is preparing to travel to Prague, in the Czech Republic, this week, to undergo the first round of proton beam therapy – treatment which she hopes will save her life.
She said: “I’ve got three tumours in total, one in my lower bowel and two in my pelvis, but one is inoperable due where it is.
“It’s lodged in between important arteries and organs. Doctors said that if they operate there is a danger of serious haemorrhaging.
I had a hysterectomy last year after I was first diagnosed with cervical cancer in the January. In November I was given the all-clear – but obviously it wasn’t all gone and has come back.
“I had been a bit poorly in November and December 2017. It felt like I was pregnant but I thought how can this be because I was using a contraceptive implant.
“I had some tests and my doctor noticed a tumour and sent me straight to the General Hospital for a biopsy.
“I had further MRI and CT scans and they told me I had cervical cancer.
“To be honest, it all happened so quickly I didn’t have time to think about everything.
“It was a case of doing what I had to do until it was all over.
“I went straight away for a hysterectomy and just got on with it for the sake of my kids and family."
Sam underwent intensive radiotherapy.
She said: “It made me quite poorly and I had time on my hands to think about everything.
“That was a bit overwhelming. My youngest was one at the time and the thing that got me at first was not being able to have any more children.”
After rebuilding her strength, she decided to return to work at the Costco wholesaler distribution centre, in Crick, near Rugby, last June.
“I had been working in the chiller but they changed my role to assembling optical glasses frames," she said.
“I wanted to return to work and keep things as normal as possible for the sake of my family and kids.
“To be honest, I started to feel loads better and when I had another MRI scan in November was given the all-clear.
“I thought ‘thank God that’s all over, now I can get on with life with my life.”
It wasn’t to be, however, as Sam began noticing some worrying symptoms.
She said: “The following month I started having shooting pains down my leg.
“At first the doctors thought it could be sciatica and a nerve problem.
“It was at my three-month check up at the hospital when I mentioned it to the consultant that they sent me for an MRI scan.
“That didn’t show up anything so they used a tiny camera to see if there was anything there.
“That’s when they found the first tumour in my lower bowel.
“When they did a biopsy they discovered it was the original cervical cancer that had reoccurred after my radiotherapy and spread.”
Further tests revealed the two further tumours.
Sam said: “It was shattering news. They told me they were particularly aggressive and had formed very quickly.
“But because I’d already had the most intensive radiotherapy I couldn’t have any more.
“They could try operating on two of them but the other was too dangerous.
“That left me with the option of chemotherapy. But there’s a chance it won’t work because of how aggressive the cancer is.”
Sam was told that proton beam therapy could, however, be an option to cure the disease.
She said: “We looked into it and there’s a greater chance of success. It is available on the NHS but there is a very long waiting list – and time isn’t on my side.
“A clinic in Manchester does offer it but it’s extremely expensive.
“Prague is one of the top places in the world for proton beam therapy and it would work out cheaper, despite the travelling and stay.”
Sam said: “It costs roughly £3,000 per session. I’m not sure how many times I’m going to need to go.
"It could be up to five, we just don’t know but that’s why we’re trying to raise as much as possible."
Friends set up a fundraising page on the JustGiving website to pay for her treatment, which has raised more than £8,000 in a matter of weeks.
Becca Sutton, 23, from Glen Parva, who set up the appeal, said: “It started out just as a way of helping Sam and the family but now we want her to get this treatment. It’s just grown from there.
“It’s expensive treatment but she’s going to need it. This is her chance for survival. We just want to do what we can to help and everyone has been so generous.
"I know she'd do exactly the same if it was me. She's the best friend and an amazing mum."
Friend Jess Jenkinson, 27, from Lutterworth, added: “Despite all she’s going through, Sam always has a smile on her face.
“I think she is so brave. Every little donation will help. She deserves this chance – for a life with her family.”
Husband Luke said: “Sam’s the strongest person I know. If anyone can beat this disease she’s the one to do it."
Sam will be flying out to Prague with her stepdad Andrew next week to begin her first round of treatment.
To donate to the appeal visit Sam’s JustGiving page .
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