Survivor Story: Jake Spencer
Meet Jake Spencer, a 26-year-old from Ashford in Kent.
Jake’s journey began in 2015 when he first experienced pain in his hip. In January 2016, he visited his GP, who suggested it might be sciatica. The next two years Jake struggled with lots of pain to the point where in 2017 he collapsed in agony on his driveway. Despite the increasing pain, Jake was again told by A&E that it was sciatica. He attended physiotherapy in June 2017, where he was asked if he was focusing on the pain. It wasn’t until October 2017, after an X-ray and MRI, that he was told he had an adventitial bursa. An adventitial bursa is a small, fluid-filled sac that forms abnormally on the outer layer (adventitia) of certain structures, typically blood vessels or tendons.
Jake underwent shockwave therapy in January 2018, and in July 2018, where a radiologist attempted to aspirate the “bursa,” which was unsuccessful. Eventually, he was referred to RNOH for a biopsy, which confirmed synovial sarcoma. The tumour was around the size of a snooker ball.
He underwent radiotherapy and surgery, which were successful. However, the cancer recurred in his lung in February 2020. Jake underwent chemotherapy and surgery from March 2020 to August 2020. Since then, he has been all clear!
If you would like to talk to someone, you can contact our Support Line on 0808 801 0401, supportline@sarcoma.org.uk or text 07860 058830
About Sarcoma
To mark this year’s Sarcoma Awareness Month, our ‘Don’t Delay’ campaign emphasises the critical need for early detection and understanding of this rare cancer.
Sarcoma is a type of cancer that can appear anywhere in the body and affects people of all ages.
About Sarcoma
To mark this year’s Sarcoma Awareness Month, our ‘Don’t Delay’ campaign emphasises the critical need for early detection and understanding of this rare cancer.
Sarcoma is a type of cancer that can appear anywhere in the body and affects people of all ages.
