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Sarah LangBritish production editor and runner with Paget's disease
Country:
 Great Britain |
Content:
- A Harrowing Discovery: Cancer Misdiagnosed as a Sports Bra Rash
- Medical Nightmare: A Routine Rash Turns Malignant
- The Importance of Listening to Your Body
- A Misdiagnosis Leads to a Rare Cancer Diagnosis
- Shocking News: Multiple Tumors and a Mastectomy
- Facing an Uncertain Future and Pursuing Fertility Options
- Determined to Stay Positive Despite the Challenges
- A Profound Shift in Priorities
A Harrowing Discovery: Cancer Misdiagnosed as a Sports Bra Rash
British production editor and runner Sarah Lang was stunned when a rash that she initially blamed on her sports bra was revealed by doctors to be cancer.
Medical Nightmare: A Routine Rash Turns Malignant
Lang, now 32, had initially dismissed the rash on her right breast in December 2015 as a chafing issue caused by her running. But after it failed to heal, she consulted her GP. A barrage of medical tests delivered the devastating news: three aggressive tumors were rapidly growing in her breast. In August 2016, she underwent a full mastectomy, followed by an upcoming course of chemotherapy.
The Importance of Listening to Your Body
"Initially, I just thought the mark was a chafe," Lang said. "But it got to the point where my nipple was being ripped off every time I took my bra off. It was agony." "Deep down, I knew something wasn't right. It was just a gut feeling."
A Misdiagnosis Leads to a Rare Cancer Diagnosis
After weeks of the rash fluctuating between clearing and reappearing, Lang saw a dermatologist in February 2016. A biopsy followed at the Royal United Hospital in Bath.
Weeks later, Lang was devastated when a doctor delivered the diagnosis: Paget's disease of the breast. This rare form of cancer typically appears in the nipple and presents with symptoms that resemble eczema.
Shocking News: Multiple Tumors and a Mastectomy
Lang underwent a battery of tests, including MRIs, ultrasounds, and mammograms, to determine the extent of her condition. The results revealed a large mass that required a lumpectomy to remove the area of the tumor. But more bad news was to follow. Pre-surgery assessments identified a second tumor.
"My consultant told me they were taking me through to a side room. I know this sounds really stupid, but it didn't click. All it meant was bad news," Lang recalled.
The additional "findings" prompted surgeons to consider a partial mastectomy instead of performing two breast-conserving surgeries.
The partial mastectomy was successful, but further tests shocked Lang further. Three more tumors were found growing in her breast.
"It was a nightmare," Lang said. "I had no lumps, nothing that would indicate these tumors were there."
Facing an Uncertain Future and Pursuing Fertility Options
Lang is currently awaiting a full prognosis, as she doesn't know the exact stage of her cancer or what the future holds. "All I know is they are grade three tumors, which means they are aggressive."
In the meantime, Lang has begun fertility treatment, as she and her partner, 37-year-old Matthew, hope to start a family someday. "Having children in the future is really important to me," Lang said. "Motherhood is something I've always wanted to do, and now I've met the right man."
Determined to Stay Positive Despite the Challenges
"It's so draining when you get so much bad news in such a short space of time," Lang said. "But I'm determined to stay as positive as I can." The thought of chemotherapy, set to begin in the next couple of months, still terrifies Lang. She is currently fundraising for a wig to help her cope during treatment.
"It's a weird limbo at the moment. I can't quite get my head around how a diagnosis can change everything," she said. "I think the chemo will make it more real. That's when I'll really feel and look like a cancer patient."
"I know I'll have lots of love and support around me. But I miss who I was and being healthy."
A Profound Shift in Priorities
"It's amazing how my priorities have changed," Lang said. "I went from being devastated about losing my nipple to being almost blasé about having a mastectomy."
"Now, I just see it as a step towards getting better. And I just have to get on with it, really."
