Mum-of-six, 35, told she has months to live after leg pain turned out to be a sign of terminal cancer
A MUM-of-six has just months to live after a persistent pain in her leg turned out to be a sign of terminal cancer.
Holly Blake, 35, noticed an ache in her right calf and was breathless so initially feared she might have developed a blood clot.
The software worker, from Edinburgh, dialled NHS 24 on June 15 and explained that she had the symptoms of a pulmonary embolism – a type of blood clot in the lungs.
She was told to go to A&E where an X-ray revealed it was a rare form of cancer called sarcoma, which had spread throughout her body, including her lungs and lymph nodes.
Speaking to the Edinburgh Evening News, she said: “My diagnosis was a total shock.
“I’d had a pain in my calf for a while and thought I might have a blood clot.
“During lockdown the niggle got worse and a visible lump on my calf appeared.
I’d had a pain in my calf for a while and thought I might have a blood clot
Holly Blake
“At the same time I suddenly started getting breathless so when I Googled it and it said ‘pulmonary embolism’, in a panic I called NHS 24.
“They sent me to A&E to get checked out and started treating me for a blood clot, but when doctors did a routine chest x-ray, it came back full of metastasised cancer.”
Holly has given up her job as a digital facilitator as she undergoes her third round of chemotherapy at Edinburgh’s Western General Hospital.
She is hopeful the treatment will give her more time with her children – Eli, 17, Poppy 14, twins Daisy and Pippa, ten, and her youngest twins Edward and Primrose, two.
Devastating prognosis
The mum said: “It’s small blue cell sarcoma, which is a rare kind of sarcoma that’s spread through my lymph nodes to my calves.
She has already been through two rounds of chemotherapy, and has been told she has a “maximum of six months” to live.
“If this doesn’t work I’m looking at a few months to live – or maximum six months.
“Either way my prognosis isn’t great, it’s stage four. This is management, rather than get rid of it.”
Holly had no health issues before her devastating diagnosis and says she doesn’t drink so has been floored by the diagnosis.
“It was just total shock and disbelief,” she said.
“It was the absolute last thing I would’ve expected. I’ve not had any health or lung problems.
“I don’t drink either.”
If this doesn’t work I’m looking at a few months to live – or maximum six months
Holly Blake
Holly’s family have rallied round to support her and help look after her six children – Eli, 17, Poppy 14, twins Daisy and Pippa, ten, and her youngest twins Edward and Primrose, two.
Despite everybody doing their best to stay strong, Holly said her family are ‘in bits’.
She said: “I have six young children and my youngest twins will be three next month.
What is sarcoma?
Sarcomas are uncommon cancers that can affect any part of the body, on the inside or outside, including the muscle, bone, tendons, blood vessels and fatty tissues.
Fifteen people are diagnosed with sarcoma every day in the UK – that’s about 5,300 people a year.
There are around 100 different sub-types of sarcoma.
Sarcomas commonly affect the arms, legs and trunk.
They also appear in the stomach and intestines as well as behind the abdomen (retroperitoneal sarcomas) and the female reproductive system (gynaecological sarcomas).
They can affect any part of the body; they develop in supporting or connective tissue such as the muscle, nerves, fatty tissue, and blood vessels.
Source: Sarcoma.org.uk
“How do you get your head around that – it’s life changing stuff.
“Everybody’s been amazing. I’ve had so much support and everybody’s pulled together.
“My little two have a different dad and he’s looking after them by himself and has given up his job.
“I hope to do some nice things with the kids before I die.”
Fresh hope
Holly is hoping to hear in the next few days if her third round of chemotherapy has been successful.
She has arranged for Edward and Primrose to live with their dad Niccolas Scott, 32, and the other children will live with her mum Diane Blake, 53.
Last week, her aunt Christine Langridge set up a fundraiser to help with funeral costs and support Holly’s family after she’s gone.
The GoFundMe page had a target of £10,000 but has raised £9,020 in less than a week.
Holly heaped praise on NHS staff for the care she has received in hospital, despite come cancer patients facing delays in receiving appointments and treatment.
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She said: “The NHS have been amazing, it’s all happened so quickly.
“I didn’t experience any delays whatsoever.
“They were super accommodating and tried to make sure my mum could be with me.”