A Ballymartin woman has highlighted her battle with a rare and often overlooked cancer as part of Sarcoma Awareness Month. Kirstie Smyth was diagnosed with sarcoma in 2023 after discovering a small, pea-sized lump behind her knee that began to grow in size. She described receiving the life-changing news as “a massive shock” that “flipped my whole world upside down.”
A series of CT scans confirmed that the cancer had not spread, and the 39-year-old said that being told this “felt like winning the lottery,” given how her thoughts had been firmly focused on her husband, Conor, and their children, Ben, Amber Rose, and Ollie. However, she subsequently had to undergo three major surgeries over a 10-week period, which impacted her mobility.
“A large portion of the back of my knee was removed – right on the bend – so I woke up in a full leg cast and needed crutches,” Kirstie stated. “Five weeks later, I underwent further surgery for a wider incision, and, after that, I required further surgery again to get another skin graft put onto the back of my leg, so, in 10 weeks, I had three big surgeries. It was very, very tough.
“I had not realised how dependent I would become. I went from being totally independent to needing help with absolutely everything.”
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