A WOMAN has questioned how her cancer was repeatedly missed – until a scan revealed an 8cm tumour in her chest.
For years, Emma Simms, 32, knew in her gut that something wasn’t right as she grappled , maddeningly and was unable to gain weight.
When she also began suffering from and , Emma began pushing for answers – only to be repeatedly dismissed by doctors.
“I was turned away three times by my GP and even ended up in A&E,”; Emma, from Stratford-Upon-Avon, said.
“Each time I was told it was nothing serious. They did blood tests and categorically told me I didn’t have .
“One GP actually said, ‘You don’t have , you don’t have lymphoma. Everything’s come back great.’
“And that was it. I was sent on my way.”;
It wasn’t until December 2024, after months of worsening symptoms, that Emma was finally referred to the haematology department at the Churchill Hospital in .
There, a CT scan revealed an 8cm tumour lodged in her chest and beginning to spread to her right lung.
She was officially diagnosed with – a rare form of blood cancer – on February 4, 2025, which also happened to be World Cancer Day.
“I was told over the phone a couple of weeks before the biopsy confirmed it, so I had a bit of time to get my head around it,”; Emma explained
“But nothing prepares you for sitting there face-to-face and seeing the scan image.
“I just remember thinking, ‘How did this happen? How was it missed for so long?’”;
Her treatment began with one of the most aggressive forms of chemotherapy, delivered in intense bursts across several days.
Emma said: “It was terrifying, but given how big the tumour was, I wanted to go in hard.
“I’ve just finished my second cycle, and if things look promising on my next scan, I’ll be able to switch to a different chemo regimen called ABVD.
“The vomiting and the bone pain from the Filgrastim injections have been the hardest.
“You have to inject yourself after chemo to boost your white blood cells, but it makes your bones ache so badly.
“I’ve also gained two stone in two months from the steroids, and between that, the , and the loss, sometimes I hardly recognise myself in the mirror.”;
But Emma has found some parts of her ordeal easier than she’d anticipated.
“I thought I’d wear my wig constantly, but I mostly just go bald now or wear a hat,”; she said.
“The support online has been amazing. It’s helped me feel more confident about going out without it.
“People message me saying I don’t need the wig, but it’s still a bit of a mental adjustment.”;
What’s surprised Emma most is how she’s coping mentally.
“People might be shocked to hear this, but for me, dealing with cancer has been easier than my past mental struggles,”; she says.
“I’ve battled anxiety and since I was a teenager. Cancer is scary, of course, but there’s a treatment plan. There’s a path forward.
“With , it’s just you, alone in your head. That’s so much harder.”;
‘Excited for the future’
Emma has taken to to share updates on her cancer and mental health.
“Talking about my journey has connected me with so many amazing people. It really helps me feel less alone.”;
Through it all, Emma credits her partner Calvin as her rock.
“He’s been incredible. I don’t know how I’d manage without him. Honestly, people who go through chemo alone are superheroes.
“My family and friends have also been so supportive – I feel very lucky.”;
She’s currently waiting for a scan at the end of April to see how well her body is responding to the treatment.
“I’ll still be on chemo for a few more months after that – the type will just depend on what the scan shows.”;
Emma said her illness has given her a new outlook on life.
“I’ve never felt more excited for the future. I used to take my body for granted. Now I just want to live life fully, try new things, appreciate the little stuff.”;
For anyone facing pushback from doctors, Emma urged them to trust their gut and keep pushing for answers.
“If you feel something’s wrong, keep going back. I knew in my gut something wasn’t right.
“And while I was frustrated by the delay, once I got to Haematology, the care has been phenomenal.
“The Aylesford Cancer Unit in Warwick has been like a second family. The staff there are literal angels.”;
For now, Emma is taking each day as it comes — and hopes sharing her journey might help others in her position.
“If sharing my highs and lows helps just one person feel less scared or less isolated, then it’s all worth it.
“I’ve always believed there’s strength in being vulnerable.”;
