Sarcoma Awareness Month: Life GoesĀ On
For Rachel Stevenson, life in August 2017 was a fast-paced balancing act. Running her own digital marketing agency while raising her five-year-old daughter, Lyla, left little time to slow down. So when she noticed a subtle sensation in her right thigh, about the size of a small boiled egg, she did not immediately think much of it. Even when overwhelming exhaustion forced her to nap in her car before meeting friends for lunch, she did not connect the dots.
That chance discovery turned her world upside down. Following GP appointments, an ultrasound, an MRI, and a biopsy, Rachel was given a diagnosis she never saw coming: myxoid liposarcoma.
“It was a massive shock,” says Rachel, from West Bedford, Nottingham. “I thought I was going to die. My first thought was of my daughter: will I be here for her?”
As the years went by, I relaxed a bit. I know my body quite well. If it came back, I think I would know.
Rachel Stevenson
What followed was a demanding chapter: five weeks of daily radiotherapy to shrink the tumour, followed by excision surgery in March 2018 that left a 30cm scar on her thigh. Throughout her treatment, Rachel refused to let her business falter, keeping RS Media running steadily with the support of trusted freelancers.
At home, she found vital community in online patient groups, sharing experiences with others who truly understood the reality of the disease. She also relied on the quiet comfort of her cockapoo puppy, Teddy, who rarely left her side during her recovery, and the steadfast support of her parents, Loraine and Jimmy, and her brother, Dean. Her mother provided a wonderful emotional anchor, listening patiently through hours of tears and laughter.
This March, Rachel celebrated eight years in remission, a milestone she reached alongside her husband Matt, Lyla, step-daughter Holly, and a now very well-walked Teddy. Today, Rachel covers up to 25 miles a week on foot, visits the gym four times a week, and has completed two half-marathons, including the London Landmarks Half-Marathon for Sarcoma UK.
The experience has fundamentally shifted her perspective. While she still watches her body closely, she lives without the paralysing fear that once gripped her. “People say you are so brave when you have cancer, but you do not have a choice,” she reflects. “It is like standing on a surfboard riding a wave. I thought cancer was the kind of thing that happens to other people. It has made me be more present.”
Turning personal stories into clinical breakthroughs
Rachel’s experience highlights why targeted research into liposarcoma, a type of cancer that develops in fat cells, is so critical. While Rachel’s treatment was successful, too many people face far more difficult outcomes.
To change this, Sarcoma UK is funding vital research led by Dr Zoƫ Walters at the University of Southampton. Her team is tackling liposarcoma from two key angles: building new laboratory models to understand why the disease resists immunotherapy, and uncovering the specific genetic changes that drive aggressive subtypes. This work brings us closer to discovering smarter, more effective treatments that come with far fewer devastating side effects.
Rachel would like to thank St Georgeās Medical Practice in West Bridgford for being ‘a constant source of support throughout my journey and recovery. Whenever I found myself worrying about every ache, pain, or symptom, they were always kind, understanding and reassuring. Their compassion, patience, and unwavering support meant a great deal to me.’ She would also like to acknowledge the ‘wonderful team at the Sarcoma Unit at Nottingham City Hospital. The nurses and doctors were exceptional, providing outstanding care, support and compassion’.
Sarcoma UK too is grateful to healthcare professionals. We are here to support professionals in terms of education, guidelines and diagnostic pathways. Visit our HCP Hub for more resources.Ā
Helping this story reach further
We are working hard behind the scenes to bring stories like Rachel’s to wider audiences, building true public understanding of sarcoma.
Here is where we have helped share her story so far – with more to follow throughout July and beyond.Ā
- West Bridgford mum marks eight years cancer-free after rare sarcoma diagnosis West Bridgford Wire
Read next: Nicās story
Nic Puntis turned a rare sarcoma diagnosis into a campaign for national NHS policy reform.
Driving national changeSupporting you and our community
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About Sarcoma UK
We are the national charity for anyone affected by sarcoma cancer. We fund cutting edge research, campaign for better treatments, and work to enable earlier diagnosis so that everyone in our community can live longer and betterĀ lives.
About Sarcoma UK
We are the national charity for anyone affected by sarcoma cancer. We fund cutting edge research, campaign for better treatments, and work to enable earlier diagnosis so that everyone in our community can live longer and betterĀ lives.
