Doctors found a 12.5 cm tumour in my neck.

Survivor Story: Radhika Thakrar

Meet Radhika Thakrar, a 35-year-old mum-of-two from Leicester.

In March 2022, just a month after giving birth, Radhika noticed a concerning lump on her neck. It didn’t look right so she spoke to her cousin who advised her to go to the GP. She rang the GP and was told to go in straight away. She was referred by the GP for ENT evaluation (Ear, Nose, Throat) but was told it would take 4–5 weeks for an appointment date.

Fortunately, project manager Radhika had private health insurance which allowed her to get evaluated the same day. The doctor diagnosed a thyroid issue and prescribed treatment. She says over the next eight months she was “put through hell” with multiple scans and treatment for Thyroid. The lump kept growing, and with it came various changes to her voice. She decided to see another consultant who felt she needed an MRI and CT Scan. She was referred back to the NHS, which told her she may have cancer, but it was not sarcoma. Surgery was scheduled for December 12th to address the thyroid problem.

Days before the operation, the sarcoma team in Nottingham intervened, confirming Radhika had liposarcoma, a rare cancer. On December 28th, 9 months after her initial symptoms, Radhika underwent surgery to remove the 12.5cm tumour from her neck.

Now cancer-free, Radhika’s journey highlights the challenges of obtaining a timely sarcoma diagnosis and the crucial role of specialist sarcoma teams in providing accurate assessments.

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

 

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