A mum has told of her harrowing ordeal after being given six months to live due to a rare cancer diagnosis taking over her body – and her biggest fear is that her daughter won’t remember her.
When Sophie Louise Wright couldn’t keep down anything but dry bread, coupled with intense pain under her ribs, she questioned if it was all in her head.
The oncology secretary, from Torquay, Devon, had previously undergone surgery to remove polyps – tissue growth – from her bowel and thought her “debilitating” symptoms were a result of this.
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But as she gradually became sicker, with her rapidly losing weight, having to call off work and struggling to take care of her daughter, she decided enough was enough.
Now, the 34-year-old has been given six months to live after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and is hoping to raise awareness with her battle to warn others, as well as find treatment to give her more time.
“When my daughter is mentioned or I think about the time I have left with her, I cannot contain my emotions,” Sophie told Need To Know.
“My biggest fear is not being around to watch her grow up.
“She’s nearly four and I don’t think she’ll remember much of her life at this stage – so I’m worried she’ll forget me.
“I don’t want anybody to replace me.
“I just want to be her mum forever.
“I’d happily live with cancer destroying my life forever if it meant I got to be with her.”
Sophie, who had struggled with bleeding from her bottom, underwent the polyp removal in May 2023.
Up until her aforementioned cancer diagnosis in October 2023, she had also struggled with going to the toilet which left her feeling bloated.
While the biopsies from the removal came back negative, she had a gut feeling that something much worse was going on.
She said: “I thought perhaps the polyps had spread across my body – but I didn’t think it was cancer.
“I gradually became sicker, more tired, losing weight and finding life hard.
‘I had to cancel all plans with friends and family as I couldn’t eat food and I was left housebound.
“It made my relationship with my daughter and fiancé harder, too, as I gave up.
“My life was totally ruined and I questioned whether there was something mentally wrong with me, as all my results came back clear.”
The mum claims she was given anti-sickness tablets and told it was likely due to acid reflux or a stomach ulcer until she underwent a series of blood tests, CT and MRI scans, as well as a liver biopsy.
She was then diagnosed with metastatic lower GI adenocarcinoma cancer in her bowel, which has since spread to her liver and spine – and due to the high volume, it’s estimated that with treatment, she only has 18 months left.
Now, she’s receiving chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiotherapy, which has worsened her symptoms, including ulcers and numbness in the feet.
While these aim to extend her life expectancy, the mum has discovered a form of treatment in Germany which aims to shrink the tumours through delivering chemotherapy directly into the liver, rather than the entire body, until they disappear completely.
But it comes as an eye-watering £3,300 cost per pop, with an estimated 10 sessions needed to achieve these results.
Now, she and her fiancé, Lewis, 35, along with her daughter [not named for privacy reasons], are fundraising for this with £11,436 out of £25,000 in total so far.
Currently, she’s making the most of the time she has left and hopes to warn others with her story.
The mum added: “My little girl has been amazing.
“She helps me get dressed, takes me to the toilet, puts my shoes on.
“Lewis, who is also struggling, has kept the house afloat.
“He still puts me first each day and I honestly believe without him, I wouldn’t be here.
“I hope that my future is positive and I can fight this.
“Even if I can’t get rid of it, I hope I can live.
“Don’t take anything for granted and live your life how you want, as you never know what might happen.
“No one my age should be fighting cancer and worrying about when our time will be up.
“Just keep fighting, especially for those who love you.”
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