A sports fanatic teenager who thought she had just pulled a muscle actually had a melon-sized tumour in her bottom.
Ellie Waters, 14, from Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, was diagnosed with deep tissue tear after collapsing in a charity run last year.
She had noticed a small lump in her buttocks which was causing her pain and preventing her from sitting down – but had kept it quiet from her family.
However, when the lump trebled in size, she opened up to her mother and doctors revealed she had an alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma – a form of soft tissue cancer.
But after six months of intense treatment, the tumour has been eradicated and she is on the road to recovery.
Scroll down for video
Ellie Waters, 14, was diagnosed with deep tissue tear after collapsing in a charity run last year. She noticed a small lump in her buttocks which was causing her pain. Eventually it tripled in size and doctors revealed she had a form of soft tissue cancer
But after six months of intense treatment (pictured), the alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma has been eradicated and she is on the road to recovery
Proud mother, Samantha Waters-Long, 42, said: ‘When Ellie was diagnosed with cancer I was completely floored, our whole family was.
‘We have such a close family unit and it was absolutely heart-breaking.
‘Being a typical teenager Ellie never mentioned the full extent of her symptoms due to the area it affected.
-
Mother-of-two, 30, loses part of her cervix to cancer…
Four-year-old who went to the doctors complaining of an itch…
High blood pressure is linked to DEMENTIA: Common condition…
Getting mad or doing heavy exercise can double your risk of…
‘Despite her age though, Ellie has took every step in her stride, I couldn’t be more proud of her and how she’s handled everything.
‘She’s been through more in the past 12 months than most do in a life time, she’s my little fighter.
‘Thankfully Ellie’s tumour was found just in time, her type of cancer can be very aggressive and the outcome could have been very different.’
Ellie had kept the lump a secret from her mother – who took her straight to her GP when she found out. They believed it was an abscess but during an operation to remove it they found a large mass. She was sent for a CT scan which revealed she had cancer
Ellie had initally complained she was in pain after noticing a small-lump in her buttocks.
She assumed it was a result of being part of either the cross-country team or playing football.
After taking part in a charity run, she collapsed and her family took her to see their GP.
She was initially diagnosed with a deep tissue tear as she was too embarrassed to reveal her other symptoms.
However, the lump continued to grow until it was the size of a melon and left Ellie physically sick.
Ellie finally opened up about the lump to her mother – who instantly took her back to seek medical advice.
They then believed it to be a perineum abscess – sending her for an operation to remove it.
However, during surgery they found a large mass in her buttocks and she was sent for a CT scan.
Ellie just needs to finish her 12-month maintenance chemotherapy plan to make sure all the cancer cells are eliminated
The teen has been vlogging about her journey to raise awareness and has become an internet sensation with over 55,000 views on one video alone (pictured with her mother, Samantha Waters-Long, 42)
The scan revealed she had an alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma – a form of soft tissue cancer.
She underwent six months of intense chemotherapy and around six weeks of radiotherapy to rid her of the cancer.
Now, the tumour has completely gone and she is almost fully recovered.
Ellie just needs to finish her 12-month maintenance chemotherapy plan to make sure all the cancer cells are eliminated.
She is ecstatic to now be back at school and plans to make up for lost time to ensure she gets to university in the future.
The teen has been vlogging about her journey to raise awareness and has become an internet sensation with over 55,000 views on one video alone.
Ellie said: ‘Cancer is one of those things that happen to other people.
WHAT ARE ALVEOLAR RHABDOMYOSARCOMAS?
Sarcomas are rare types of cancer that develop in the supporting or connective tissues of the body.
Soft tissue sarcomas can develop in muscle, fat, blood vessels, or any of the other tissues that support, surround and protect the organs of the body.
About 3,300 new cases are diagnosed each year in the UK.
Rhabdomyosarcomas grow in the active muscles of the body.
The most common places for them to be found are the head, neck, bladder, vagina, arms, legs and trunk of the body.
Alveolar rhabdomyosarcomas tend to occur in older children and adolescents.
It is usually treated with chemotherapy, along with surgery or radiotherapy – but it’s unknown what causes it.
Most rhabdomyosarcomas are diagnosed after a person develops symptoms. These may include:
- a lump that can be seen or felt – it may or may not be painful
- bleeding from the nose, vagina, rectum or throat, if the tumour is in these areas
- tingling, numbness, pain and loss of movement, if the tumour presses on nerves in the area
Source: Macmillan Cancer Support
‘I was healthy one minute, then the next I was aware of a deadly beast hidden inside me.
‘I wasn’t afraid, however I was worried about what the future would hold for me and for my family.
‘Over the past year I’ve grown an unbreakable bond with my mum, she’s been there every step of the way and I can’t thank her or my family enough.
‘I started vlogging as it gave me a purpose, I’ve met so many amazing people since.
‘What’s the point of going through such an intense experience and not doing something with it.
‘I just hope my journey can help someone else with there’s and to help them focus on the positive things instead of giving up.’
Lindsey Bennister, Chief Executive of Sarcoma UK said: ‘Ellie’s inspiring story is a prime example of the importance of early diagnosis.
‘Sarcoma is one of the cancers least understood by the general public and GPs, and discovering sarcoma early in patients could increase survival rates by as much as 20 per cent.
‘Ten new cases of sarcoma are diagnosed every day in the UK, and it is more likely to develop in young people than all other cancers.
‘16% of sarcomas are diagnosed in people under 30, whereas only 2 per cent of those diagnosed with other cancers are under the age of 30.
‘At Sarcoma UK we are fully focused on transforming the landscape of sarcoma.
‘Our mission is to amplify awareness of the disease, inspire involvement, and fund ground-breaking research to transform the lives of everyone affected by sarcoma.’
Ellie’s family have now started a fundraising page in a bid to help the youngster fulfil some of her dreams: https://www.gofundme.com/TeamEllie01
Ellie initially assumed the lump was a result of taking part in so many sporting activities (pictured with her mother, Samantha Waters-Long, 42, centre, and sister Olivia, left)