Mum's life a ‘ticking timebomb' due to rare cancer – yet her diagnosis saved friend's life
Ali Eddy shared her devastating cancer diagnosis with her good friend Rob McMeeking.
The mum-of-three had a heartbreaking conversation with Rob, telling him she had been diagnosed with incurable cancer following a routine health check-up.
Ali, 50, said her "world fell apart" in November when medics told her she had stage four thymic carcinoma.
The National Cancer Institute explained thymic carcinoma is a "rare" cancer that forms in the cells that cover the outside surface of the thymus – a small organ in the upper chest.
While most patients "do not have signs or symptoms when first diagnosed", the condition could lead to:
- A cough that doesn't go away
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- A hoarse voice
- Swelling in the face, neck, upper body, or arms.
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Speaking about her tumour, Ali – a medical secretary – said: "It is incurable and inoperable."
Ali continued: "Everyone always asks the question ‘how long have you got?’, and I wouldn’t want to say because of my kids.
"I’m really well at the moment, but it is a ticking time bomb. I am totally positive because you’ve got to live life. It makes you so grateful for everything you have."
Upon hearing Ali's diagnosis, veterinarian Rob booked his own personal health check-up.
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Rob, 52, said: "My prostate-specific antigen [PSA] was a little raised and the GP said, ‘It’s nothing to worry about, but it needs checking.'"
Rob added: "I was referred to a urologist, who is Ali’s husband, Ben. I had tests and then had an MRI, which raised an area of suspicion, so I needed a biopsy."
While medics discovered prostate cancer, the tumour was caught early so Rob underwent surgery in March.
Overjoyed with the removal of cancer, Rob wanted to advise other men to undergo health checks.
"I think for men and a prostate, which is hidden and associated with an area of the body that is uncomfortable to talk about, it is important to speak about it," he said.
Rob shared how "important" it is "to have friends like Ali" that share their personal demons and encourage you to get yourself checked out.
To help support Cancer Research UK, Ali and Rob's children organised a 24-hour danceathon at a barn in Bladbean, England – here's the link to the fundraiser.
Ali said of the organised fundraiser: "They were pretty devastated when both of our diagnoses came through. It gave them a bit more of a focus.
"[The children] have all had each other during a scary time."