Mother Triumphs Over Rare Cancer After Eye Removal Surgery

A mother from Co Down, Northern Ireland, faced a life-altering challenge when a rare form of cancer caused her eye to bulge out of its socket. Sara McGarvey first noticed the unusual swelling in her right eye while applying a face mask in January 2023. Initially dismissing it as a minor issue, she later sought medical advice after colleagues expressed their concerns.

Following a series of examinations, including a CT scan, MRI, and two biopsies, Sara received a diagnosis of undifferentiated round cell soft tissue sarcoma in June 2023. This rare cancer had developed in the upper corner of her right eyelid, resulting in her eyeball turning sideways and protruding significantly.

Fearing for her life, Sara underwent five challenging rounds of chemotherapy, hoping to shrink the tumor. Unfortunately, the treatment proved ineffective. Consequently, she had surgery on November 30, 2023, to remove both the tumor and her right eye.

In a bid to ensure the cancer was fully eradicated, Sara completed seven weeks of proton beam therapy at The Christie Hospital in Manchester, starting in February 2024. On April 12, 2024, she celebrated the end of her treatment by ringing the bell, a symbol of the completion of cancer therapy. In May 2024, she received the life-changing news that she was cancer-free.

Reflecting on her ordeal, Sara credits her colleagues with saving her life. They encouraged her to seek medical attention, which she believes was crucial in catching the cancer early. “If my friends at work didn’t make me go to be seen at the eye clinic, things could have been so different,” she stated. “The sarcoma had the potential to grow very quickly and spread very quickly, and if it wasn’t caught when it was caught, the outcome would have been very much worse.”

In recounting her experience, Sara described the harrowing moments when she grappled with her diagnosis. “I remember lying there in silence in the bath one night,” she recalled. “I turned off the taps and just said, ‘please don’t let me die.’” She expressed that much of her anxiety revolved around her son, Michael McGarvey, who was just two years old at the time. The prospect of not being able to see him grow up weighed heavily on her mind.

During her recovery, Sara received support from her family, including her husband, Andrew, and her mother, Mary, a nurse. She noted that her son adjusted remarkably well to the changes, despite initially being confused by her appearance after the surgery.

Now cancer-free for over a year, Sara is eager to share her story and encourage others to act swiftly when noticing unusual symptoms. She emphasizes the importance of early detection and urges anyone who finds a lump or experiences abnormal changes to consult a doctor without delay.

“It took six months to get an actual diagnosis,” she explained. “For sarcoma, that’s relatively fast—people wait years for a diagnosis, and by that stage, it’s too late.”

Sara is also in the process of receiving a prosthetic eye, as she prepares for her son to start primary school in September 2024. “Being able to look normal for him going to school is something I’m really excited about,” she said.

According to medical experts, undifferentiated round cell soft tissue sarcoma is an extremely rare cancer that can originate in various soft tissues of the body. Symptoms typically include a hard, painless lump, which can lead to significant health complications if not treated promptly.

Sara’s story is a powerful reminder of the critical nature of health awareness and the impact that timely medical intervention can have on survival.