Isobel Sheppard was 15 years old and preparing to sit her GCSEs when she suffered a sudden brain bleed. The cancer her family thought had been beaten had returned, spreading to her brain, lungs, kidney and adrenal gland. She died in December 2022.
This Sarcoma Awareness Month, her mother, Sam Sheppard of Great Barton, Suffolk, is urging everyone to become more aware of the disease that took her daughter.
In January 2020, Izzy, then aged 12, suddenly struggled to walk. After two weeks in hospital, she was diagnosed with a synovial sarcoma in her groin. There are on average just 79 cases of synovial sarcoma diagnosed every year in England. Izzy had chemotherapy and her leg was amputated.
Over two years later, in October 2022, Izzy was enjoying life and preparing to sit her GCSEs when she unexpectedly suffered a brain bleed. Tragically, the cancer had returned; this time it had spread to her brain, lungs, kidney and adrenal gland. Izzy died aged just 15 in December 2022.
Sam is National Sales Manager at utilities connections company Power On, which has chosen to raise funds for Sarcoma UK. She said: ‘Following the death of Izzy, I wanted to do all I can to raise funds for Sarcoma UK so others affected by sarcoma could get the support that they need. So far, we have raised more than £51,000 in a variety of challenges. We are planning to do the 50km Kent Ultra Walk in October.
‘Nothing will bring our daughter back, but we hope to be able to help those who will be affected by sarcoma in the future, so maybe one day they won’t have to endure what our daughter did.’
July is Sarcoma Awareness Month. Sam said: ‘The earlier sarcoma is diagnosed, the better the chances of successful treatment. So, if you think you have symptoms, make sure you are checked out by a health professional.’
Sarcomas are uncommon cancers that can affect any part of the body, on the inside or outside, including the muscle, bone, tendons, blood vessels and fatty tissues. There are about 100 different subtypes of sarcoma cancer.
Sarcoma UK’s Research Manager, Emily Williams, said: ‘Izzy’s story shows why sarcoma awareness is so vital, and why the research we fund cannot come soon enough. Synovial sarcoma can return suddenly and without warning, and current treatments, including the chemotherapy Izzy underwent, can cause serious side effects with no guarantee of success. We are currently funding groundbreaking research at the University of Edinburgh into the genetic abnormalities that drive sarcomas like Izzy’s, searching for shared weak points that could lead to new, more targeted treatments for patients. This Sarcoma Awareness Month, Sam’s courage in sharing Izzy’s story could help save lives, both by prompting people to seek help sooner and by inspiring others to support the research that we hope will one day change outcomes for patients like her daughter.’
