Back pain in a woman from Norwich was actually bone marrow malignancy.
After battling a specific type of bone marrow cancer for two years, she will participate in a charity walk at night.
Having an incurable form of illness, a Norwich resident is hoping that others will join her in taking part in a nighttime walk to support illness Research. Gemma Seager, 44, was identified as having multiple myeloma, a bone marrow malignancy, in June 2021.
She is currently rallying her loved ones to participate in the city’s October 7 Shine Night Walk for Cancer Research. Gemma’s primary motivation is to support research that may enable people like herself to live longer with the disease after undergoing cancer treatment.
Before receiving her cancer diagnosis, Gemma was in good physical shape. She worked as a personal trainer, lifted weights, and ran half-marathons before suffering a back injury in 2020. She pressed for additional studies after physiotherapy proved ineffective and as routine tasks like eating dinner and sitting in a chair became extremely painful.
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The following day, Gemma strained to drain a pan of pasta while berating herself for the struggle. One night, she woke up in such excruciating pain that she was unable to move to go to the toilet. I almost skipped my follow-up appointments with my GP and physio because I thought I was wasting their time and thought things would eventually get better.
It was challenging to schedule a doctor’s visit because we were also experiencing the epidemic. I did, however, go back, and when I eventually insisted on getting an MRI referral, I was carried directly into A&E because my vertebrae had collapsed.
When Gemma’s surgeon at Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital decided to delay surgery until the reason of the collapse had been identified, she soon received a cancer diagnosis. Pete and Gemma were present when the news was announced, however due to the pandemic, Gemma had to take treatment on her own moving forward.
“When I received the diagnosis, I was oddly composed. That I understood what was causing the discomfort almost made me feel relieved. I quickly entered crisis management mode, concentrating only on what was in front of me and completing therapy.
Gemma received a cocktail of medications over the course of four months, followed in December 2021 by a high-dose of chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant. Due to regulations, this meant spending two weeks in the hospital, including Christmas Day, with no visitors.
After that, Gemma began maintenance therapy, which entails taking the medication thalidomide. She will continue the pattern of taking the drug for three weeks, followed by a week off unless there are any major improvements.
Gemma’s life is significantly impacted by exhaustion, but she is steadily improving her fitness by walking and swimming on the days she feels up to it. She is also certified as an expert in cancer exercise.
“I thought that maintaining a healthy lifestyle gave me an excellent, firm foundation for recovery, and I want to assist others in experiencing the same. People should be aware of their bodies and confident in their instincts. Ask inquiries and seek counsel as needed until you feel secure and at ease with what you’re being told if you feel something isn’t right for you and there has been a change. Nobody knows your body better than you do.
“Frequently, the rarer cancers don’t show symptoms, and there is less public awareness and understanding of such cancers.”
“My experience means that I am all too aware of the significance of Cancer Research UK’s work,” she said. I hope that by sharing my experience, I will encourage more people to participate in the Shine Night Walk. I owe everything to research into new treatments. Being the first to reach the finish line is not important. Everyone is welcome to participate at their own pace, whether it be a brisk stride, an easy stroll, or a full-on power walk.
Michael Jarvis, a representative for Cancer Research UK in the East of England, said: “We want to thank Gemma and people in Norwich for making our life-saving discoveries possible. Our donors’ generosity has allowed us to treble cancer survival in the UK over the past 50 years.
“But we’re not stopping now, with some 38,400 people in the area receiving cancer diagnoses each year. Because of this, we sincerely hope that as many people as possible would put on their running shoes and take advantage of this unique chance to honour those who have battled cancer or to cast a light on loved ones who have passed away.
Every step that participants in the Shine Night Walk take from Norwich City Hall to St. James Mill and beyond will help us get closer to a world where everyone may live longer, better lives without having to worry about this deadly disease by generating essential cash.
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