Jane Humber, from Gosport, Hampshire, had a difficult journey to her diagnosis of sarcoma. She sadly died in October, aged 51, but had previously vowed to do everything she could to raise awareness of the disease. Her husband, Nick, is now continuing this in her honour.
Speaking to Sarcoma UK a few months ago, Jane said doctors had originally thought her sarcoma was a fibroid.
‘There wasn’t even a suggestion of anything else, because if there had been, I may have gone off myself and enquired or got a second opinion, or asked for another scan,’ said Jane. ‘All the way along they said it was not cancerous. There was no reason to ask for anything else.’
After a prolonged period of uncertainty and misdiagnosis, Jane would eventually receive a diagnosis of uterine sarcoma.
Jane was dedicated to raising awareness with Sarcoma UK, and was featured in our Sarcoma Awareness Month campaign in July of this year.
‘Jane was a dedicated mother, sister, daughter, and wife’ says Jane’s husband, Nick.
‘She was taken far too early. Jane was a fighter and fought so hard to the end. Her goal was to make it to her sons 21st Birthday, which she did. Once he had gone out for the evening following the family celebration, Jane deteriorated rapidly and was rushed into hospital that evening.’
‘Jane was cared for at Queen Alexandra Hospital for a week with her family by her side, before being moved to The Rowans Hospice in Waterlooville, Hampshire. Here, Jane passed away peacefully with her family by her side’.
‘Jane will always be missed and never forgotten’ says Nick. ‘I do hope raising awareness of this disease will help others from having to going through this pain.’
Nick is now continuing Jane’s wishes to raise awareness via a press campaign with Sarcoma UK, and is urging everyone to familiarise themselves with the signs and symptoms of sarcoma and to contact their GP if they have any of those listed.
‘Despite 15 people in the UK being diagnosed with sarcoma every day, only 25% of the population know what sarcoma is, with even fewer people recognising its signs and symptoms,’ says Megan Fletcher, our Early Diagnosis Officer at Sarcoma UK.
‘Getting diagnosed as early as possible is key, so if you have any signs and symptoms, contact your GP.’
‘The greater awareness we have of sarcoma, and the importance of early diagnosis, the more chance we have of being able to help people like Jane when it will really make a difference.’
Sarcoma UK have set out how we intend to combat this problem, such as targeted education programmes for medical professionals, as well as resources for patients and their families. Details can be found via our dedicated early diagnosis website page.
