Nurse Thought It Was a Muscle Strain—Turns Out It Was Bone Cancer
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NHS nurse Sophie Fay, 26, was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer.
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Symptoms began as leg pain in March 2024 and worsened over time.
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An MRI in November revealed a tumour filling her calf.
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She had an above-the-knee amputation in December 2024.
Image: Collect/PA Real Life
Sophie Fay, a 26-year-old intensive care nurse from Merseyside, is urging others to take persistent leg pain seriously after her own symptoms turned out to be a rare and aggressive cancer.
What started as an “aching” pain behind her right knee in March 2024 was initially dismissed as a gym-related strain. But by November, an MRI revealed a tumour so large it had overtaken her entire calf.
Sophie was diagnosed with spindle cell sarcoma of the bone, an extremely rare form of primary bone cancer, and underwent an above-the-knee amputation in December 2024 to remove the tumour.
A rare diagnosis few expect
Spindle cell sarcoma makes up only 2–5% of all primary bone cancer cases, according to the Bone Cancer Research Trust. It typically affects adults over the age of 40, making Sophie’s case particularly unusual.
Sophie said the scan revealed the tumour had completely filled her calf.
“There wasn’t a way they could remove it safely to leave me with a functioning leg.”
The shock of the diagnosis and the urgency of treatment led her to focus entirely on getting through it.
“The only thing I wanted was to not have cancer anymore,” she said. “I thought once it’s gone, I can deal with that.”
Early signs were easy to miss
Sophie first noticed discomfort while working with a personal trainer. But as the weeks passed, her symptoms escalated:
- Swelling in her right calf
- Heat and tenderness to the touch
- A noticeable limp
- Her calf measured 6cm larger than the other
Despite several early assessments, including an inconclusive ultrasound and a possible diagnosis of a Baker’s cyst, it wasn’t until an MRI in November that the tumour was discovered.
She received her official diagnosis on 29 November 2024.
"Survival mode" helped her stay positive
Sophie describes the shock of hearing she had cancer and needing an amputation as life-altering, but says she quickly shifted into what she calls “survival mode” to manage the emotional toll.
She underwent surgery at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital on 17 December 2024, and describes the operation and initial recovery as “very smooth.”
However, adapting to life with a prosthetic has been physically and mentally challenging.
“It’s comforting to know this is the hardest it will ever be,” she said. “As time goes on, I’ll get better prosthetic parts, a better socket and knee joint, things that will make it easier.”
Back to work—and determined to raise awareness
Now back at work in a non-clinical capacity, Sophie says her perspective has changed.
“You do get the realisation with something like this that our days are numbered and we’re not all invincible.”
As part of Bone Cancer Awareness Week (October 6–12), she’s sharing her story through the Bone Cancer Research Trust to help others avoid missed or delayed diagnoses.
“If sharing my story means bone cancer is spoken about more within healthcare, that’s the main thing.”
What nurses should know about spindle cell sarcoma
According to the Bone Cancer Research Trust, key facts include:
- Spindle cell sarcoma of the bone is a rare soft-tissue tumour that behaves like osteosarcoma
- It’s most common in adults over 40
- Early symptoms often mimic common musculoskeletal issues
- MRI and biopsy are key to diagnosis
- Treatment often involves surgery, including possible amputation
Sophie now undergoes scans every three months for the next two years to monitor for recurrence.
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