Pregnant Woman Mistook Lump In The Leg For Yoga Strain. It Was 1-In-A-Million Cancer
While pregnant, Zoe from Bournemouth discovered she had a rare cancer called PEComa. Given months to live, she gave birth, had surgery, and continues to fight two years on
The human body often conceals silent changes, and sometimes what appears minor can signal something far more serious. This was the case for Zoe Handscomb-Edwards, a young mother from Bournemouth, England, who discovered she had a rare form of cancer while pregnant, after initially believing a lump on her leg was simply a muscle strain from yoga.
Zoe first noticed the painless lump, larger than a golf ball, in October 2022. Around the same time, she found out she was pregnant, which filled her with joy. Focused on her pregnancy, she dismissed the lump until a friend urged her to consult a doctor. She eventually did in February 2023.
Three months later, at 16 weeks pregnant, Zoe was diagnosed with PEComa, a rare type of sarcoma that affects just one in a million people. In May 2023, while seven months pregnant, surgeons removed a 20cm tumour from her leg. A planned caesarean followed in July, and she safely gave birth to her daughter, Penelope.
However, in August, a PET scan revealed the cancer had already spread. Doctors gave Zoe a grim prognosis: six months to two years to live. Reflecting on her journey, she described the diagnosis as the second worst day of her life, second only to the fear of undergoing surgery while carrying her baby.
Despite the devastating news, Zoe chose to embrace life. She travelled across Europe with three-month-old Penelope and continued treatment. Two years on, she is still fighting and doing well. Now, she is using her voice to raise awareness about PEComa and the importance of getting unusual lumps checked early.
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News18
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Pregnant Woman Mistook Lump In The Leg For Yoga Strain. It Was 1-In-A-Million Cancer
Last Updated: While pregnant, Zoe from Bournemouth discovered she had a rare cancer called PEComa. Given months to live, she gave birth, had surgery, and continues to fight two years on The human body often conceals silent changes, and sometimes what appears minor can signal something far more serious. This was the case for Zoe Handscomb-Edwards, a young mother from Bournemouth, England, who discovered she had a rare form of cancer while pregnant, after initially believing a lump on her leg was simply a muscle strain from yoga. Zoe first noticed the painless lump, larger than a golf ball, in October 2022. Around the same time, she found out she was pregnant, which filled her with joy. Focused on her pregnancy, she dismissed the lump until a friend urged her to consult a doctor. She eventually did in February 2023. Three months later, at 16 weeks pregnant, Zoe was diagnosed with PEComa, a rare type of sarcoma that affects just one in a million people. In May 2023, while seven months pregnant, surgeons removed a 20cm tumour from her leg. A planned caesarean followed in July, and she safely gave birth to her daughter, Penelope. However, in August, a PET scan revealed the cancer had already spread. Doctors gave Zoe a grim prognosis: six months to two years to live. Reflecting on her journey, she described the diagnosis as the second worst day of her life, second only to the fear of undergoing surgery while carrying her baby. Despite the devastating news, Zoe chose to embrace life. She travelled across Europe with three-month-old Penelope and continued treatment. Two years on, she is still fighting and doing well. Now, she is using her voice to raise awareness about PEComa and the importance of getting unusual lumps checked early. First Published:
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