Woman Told She Had Sciatica Discovers Grapefruit-Sized Tumour on Her Spine After Scans in Greece

For two years, 23-year-old student Leah Kalkan from West Yorkshire was repeatedly told her severe lower back pain was caused by sciatica.

But after travelling to Greece for private scans, she discovered the real cause: a grapefruit-sized tumour on her spine.

Leah had visited her GP multiple times a month since 2021, reporting intense pain radiating from her lower back down her right leg. Despite referrals, scans, and even ambulance call-outs, doctors insisted she was suffering from sciatica — typically caused by a slipped disc pressing on the sciatic nerve.

By 2023, a hard, tender lump appeared on her lower back. Leah’s partner arranged private scans in Greece, which revealed alarming abnormalities. When her GP refused to review the scans because they were conducted abroad, Leah sought private medical advice.

She was eventually diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer.

“I was scared. They told me the lump was very serious, and my cancer was rare and aggressive,” Leah recalled. “Knowing there was a deadly disease inside me after being told I was fine for so long was devastating.”

Leah’s pain had become so severe that at times she was unable to walk, sit, or lie down. Despite repeatedly begging for further investigations, she was sent home with painkillers, including morphine, but no answers.

Her private scans in Greece prompted a neurosurgeon in the UK to refer her for a biopsy, and in December 2023, she received her diagnosis. She began an intensive treatment plan, including 14 cycles of chemotherapy and 33 proton beam therapy sessions.

With support from Teenage Cancer Trust, Leah completed treatment in July 2024 and has now returned to university, studying modern languages and English with French.

She is sharing her story to raise awareness — and funds — for the Teenage Cancer Trust, which supports around 7,000 young people with cancer every year.

Reflecting on her long journey to diagnosis, Leah urged others to trust their instincts:

“My symptoms were obvious. Any lump should be alarming. I’d tell anyone to keep pushing for answers if you know something’s wrong with your body.”