A woman who was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer says her battle with the disease has improved her mental health, despite leaving her on the brink of death multiple times.
Daisy Ellis, 23, from Northamptonshire, was diagnosed with stage four alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) in 2017 after experiencing back pain and collapsing when she sneezed. The cancer, which grows in muscles, is diagnosed around 3,300 times per year in the UK.
Miss Ellis underwent 13 rounds of chemotherapy, during which she regularly suffered neutropenic sepsis, a life-threatening failure of the immune system. She is now undergoing radiotherapy.
Despite the ordeal, Miss Ellis said having cancer has given her depression and anxiety 'a kick up the butt' and banished them. She said: 'It sounds crazy but I feel like having cancer has improved my mental health. It has given me a new perspective on life.'
Miss Ellis first noticed something was wrong in April 2017 when she struggled to lift heavy objects and experienced back spasms. She initially dismissed the symptoms as overexertion but later sought medical help after the pain spread to her leg.
