A MOTHER who thought her back pain was caused by sitting at a desk all day was later diagnosed with incurable cancer.
Izzie Collins spent months blaming her constant pain on poor posture and sitting still for too long.
5
But in April 2024, the 30-year-old received the life-changing news that she had stage four neuroendocrine tumors.
These develop in cells of the neuroendocrine system and affect around 6,000 people every year in the UK.
Izzie, from Stockton, County Durham, told The Sun: “I’m taking each day as it comes.
“Some days the pain is debilitating and I can’t believe how much my life has changed in the blink of an eye.”
The mother of two started experiencing back pain at the end of last year.
She assumed it was from sitting at her desk at work, doing chores or carrying her youngest daughter.
Izzie, mother of 10-year-old Kaiya and one-year-old Violet, even changed the mattress thinking this could be the cause.
But a blood test revealed that her pain was actually a symptom of cancer.
Further tests showed that she has “numerous tumors” in her spine, which are “dangerously close to the spinal cord.”
“Unfortunately for our best friend, the disease spread from her pancreas to her bones,” said Nieve Woodhouse, 24.
Izzie, who still lives with “excruciating pain,” hopes to encourage others to check any symptoms they experience early.
She said: “Last year, before Christmas, I thought one day I had stepped back.
“It got better in the following weeks, but it started to hurt again shortly after.
“As I hadn’t worked from home for a long time, I thought it was because I wasn’t sitting properly at my desk.
“Then I added that I hadn’t had my daughter Violet in a long time, so I thought it could also be from carrying her.”
She reduced her working hours and started going to the gym in an attempt to strengthen her back muscles.
“In the end, I couldn’t sleep and I burned my back so badly with hot water bottles that I lost all feeling on one side,” Izzie said.
Izzie has been in excruciating pain and over the last few months has shown incredible strength and positivity.
Nieve Woodhouse
It was only after doctors ran blood tests that she discovered the truth.
Izzie is currently taking monthly injections to stop the tumors from growing and has scans every three to five months to monitor her progress.
She also received radiation therapy to two of the areas that cause her the most pain.
Nieve and her sister Emily, 29, launched a GoFundMe to help Izzie during her treatment, as she had to give up work.
‘DOESN’T FEEL REAL’
“No matter how small the donation, it will help her not have to worry about finances during this really difficult time,” Nieve said.
“Izzie has been in excruciating pain and over the last few months has shown incredible strength and positivity.
“She is the kindest, most caring, selfless, caring and generous person you will ever meet, who is now facing the hardest fight of her life.
“We will fight this battle with her and do anything and everything we can to help.”
Izzie said: “On days when I feel most capable, I make the most of it with my family and friends.
“I don’t think it will ever be real to know that I will never be free from cancer.
“It’s something I have to learn to live with.
“What matters most is that I manage my pain and continue to be positive about the future.
“My family and friends have literally been my lifeline through all of this. I really couldn’t do it without them.”
5
5
5
Symptoms of a neuroendocrine tumor
A neuroendocrine tumor affects cells that release hormones into the bloodstream.
They can develop in many different organs of the body, so symptoms can vary.
A tumor in the digestive system, for example, can cause diarrhea, constipation or stomach pain, while one in the lung can cause wheezing or a persistent cough.
Sometimes tumors can cause large amounts of hormones to be released into the bloodstream and cause cramps, low blood sugar levels, changes in blood pressure, and heart problems.
Treatment will depend on several factors, but often involves medicines called somatostatin analogues, which are injected every 28 days.
Embolization, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and radiofrequency ablation may also be used to shrink a tumor or stop its growth.
Around 6,000 people are diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer every year in the UK. Survival rates vary enormously.
Source: National Health Service, Cancer research in the UK It is Neuroendocrine Cancer UK
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
