A WOMAN’S chests pains were dismissed as anxiety and she was told to do yoga and meditation.
But 18 months after being fobbed off, doctors discovered hundreds of cancerous lymph nodes in her body.
Saskia Clark, 24, underwent a bilateral neck dissection and open heart surgery[/caption]
Saskia Clark underwent a bilateral neck dissection so doctors could remove 204 cancerous lymph nodes, as well as open heart surgery to remove a tumour in her chest.
The 24-year-old is now navigating life post-op and getting used to sporting red scars around her neck and down her sternum.
After sharing her story on TikTok in posts garnering up to 5.5 million views, Saskia often gets comments from people on her scarring – but has learned to embrace it.
“Surprisingly, the scars don’t bother me at all,” Saskia, a social media manager based in Manchester, said.
“I think your perspective changes after going through something like this – things feel way more real, that caring about my appearance is not something high on my list.
“I do feel though, as women especially, there’s so much focus and stigma on our appearance, especially after cancer, and especially now with social media and the younger generations wearing makeup as young as nine.
“I wanted to show how there’s no need to be scared about it, that it’s something to be proud of and to embrace because, ultimately, we only get one body and one life, and we need to be kind to it.”
Saskia underwent a total thyroidectomy, a bilateral neck dissection for lymph node removal, and a sternotomy – open heart surgery – to remove a tumour in her chest.
She went on to spend eight days in intensive care, and then moved to a ward for a further four days before being discharged.
The “intense” treatment followed a shock cancer diagnosis in August 2024 – 18 months after she first raised concerns about her health.
Saskia had been in good health, rarely drinking, never smoking and keeping active when she started suffering chest pain.
Having struggled with anxiety and fatigue in the past, she says doctors initially thought her long working hours were to blame.
She claims they even told her to try several wellness activities including yoga, meditation and acupuncture, to try and ease symptoms.
After “countless appointments”, a CT scan finally found the more sinister cause, and Saskia was diagnosed with medullary thyroid cancer.
‘Difficult recovery’
Having undergone the surgeries late last year, Saskia has since been focusing on her recovery.
She said of the experience: “Intense is how I’d describe it, a real whirlwind.
“You don’t ever expect to be somewhere like intensive care, and it really shifts your perspective on life, being around such incredibly vulnerable people fighting for their lives.
“Recovery has been really difficult.
“You don’t realise how hard relearning things really is – we’re so hardwired to get on with life that when you’re faced with something like this where you can’t, it’s so confusing.
“Little things like not being able to wash my own hair, or walk up the stairs, make my own cup of tea.
Saskia in hospital[/caption]
She found recovery from surgery tough[/caption]
She had to get used to needing help with groceries and washing her hair[/caption]
“It’s taken me about 10 weeks to be anywhere close to feeling like I can manage little things alone, and even then I have my off days.
“I ended up in A&E a few times post-op with swelling and pain issues, and I’ve had to use a wheelchair for things like long distances, which is an entirely new experience and really makes you appreciate your ability to be independent.
“I can’t go anywhere alone still, and I can’t carry weight or be unaided in case of emergencies.
“I also wear a neck brace to support my neck so things like crossing the road alone are a no go.”
One of her vocal cords was also paralysed during an operation, leaving Saskia with a huskier, quieter voice.
‘Stronger every day’
Saskia was told that her cancer is chronic, though doctors are confident symptoms can be managed.
And Saskia is determined not to let her prognosis, her scarring, or any other changes get the best of her.
She added: “I’m getting stronger every day.
“Since sharing [videos of my scars online], I’ve received such positive responses and receive so many messages from other people who’ve either felt their symptoms weren’t addressed, or felt self-conscious about their scars or bodies.
“It’s been really rewarding to hear people’s appreciation for me simply sharing my scars.
“I think it offers a lot of perspective too, we push our health to the bottom of the list, and seeing my story really shocks people and reminds them to take their health seriously.”
What is medullary thyroid cancer?
There are many different types of thyroid cancer.
Most start in the follicular cells, but a small number start in the C cells. These are called medullary thyroid cancers.
This type of cancer is rare. About a quarter of cases are caused by an inherited faulty gene which runs in the family.
Medullary thyroid cancer can spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver or lungs.
The most common symptom is a mass or lump in the neck, which may be painful.
But people can also experience:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Problems breathing
- A hoarse voice, pressure
- Discomfort in the neck
- A red face
- Diarrhoea
- Weight loss
Source: Cancer Research UK
