For ten long years, Cheryl Murray lived with a painful, growing lump on her foot — a secret she hid even from the man she loved.
It wasn’t until she moved in with her partner David that the truth, and the lump, could no longer be hidden. What she thought was a minor issue turned out to be something much more terrifying: cancer.
The secret she couldn’t hide forever
Cheryl, from Glasgow in Scotland, first noticed the lump on her foot when she was just 15 years old. It was uncomfortable, but not alarming. A doctor initially brushed it off and suggested physiotherapy. After a slip and fall, they believed she may have torn a ligament.
But over the next decade, the lump didn’t go away—it grew. And every time she accidentally bumped it, the pain was sharp and unbearable. Eventually, it swelled to the size of a golf ball.
By then, Cheryl had started dating David. But instead of telling him about the lump, she kept it hidden—out of embarrassment.
“I was ashamed of it,” she admitted while talking to Daily Mail.
That shame held her back from getting help.
”He could tell it was more serious”
It wasn’t until they moved in together that David finally saw the bulge and confronted her.
“David asked me what was wrong with my foot. I replied that it was torn ligaments, but he could tell it wasn’t, that it was more serious,” Cheryl recalled.
He urged her to go back to the doctor. That decision may have saved her life.
The diagnosis changed everything
Her doctor quickly scheduled an MRI, X-ray, and biopsies. The results were devastating.
The lump was cancer — a sarcoma. And it was aggressive.
Her surgeon delivered the grim news: To stop the cancer from spreading, they needed to amputate Cheryl’s lower leg as soon as possible.
“I was hysterical. I was so stunned I couldn’t speak,” she said. “I felt like I had been punched in the face twice on one day.”
Life-altering proposal
Throughout the ordeal, David stood firmly by her side. Incredibly, just weeks before her amputation, he proposed.
Cheryl credits him with giving her the strength to keep going.
“He provided me motivation and the willpower to continue,” she said.
What is sarcoma?
Sarcoma is a rare cancer that affects the body’s connective tissues — things like muscles, tendons, fat, blood vessels, and nerves. It can strike anywhere, but most commonly starts in the arms or legs, according to Cleveland Clinic.
Doctors still don’t fully understand what causes sarcomas, but they tend to appear more in adults, especially those who have undergone radiation or chemotherapy for other cancers. There are several types, including:
- Osteosarcoma (bone cancer)
- Chondrosarcoma (cartilage cancer)
- Ewing’s sarcoma (originating in the bone marrow)
These cancers can be hard to detect at first, with symptoms that vary based on tumor location. Some common red flags include:
- Persistent swelling that doesn’t go away
- Lumps or deformities in bones or under the skin
- Chronic pain in a specific area
- Muscle weakness or loss of mobility
- Changes in walking or coordination
Don’t ignore the signs
Cheryl’s story is a powerful reminder that when something feels wrong, don’t ignore it. She was lucky. Her life was saved — but only because she finally listened to her instincts (and David).
“If I hadn’t shown him the lump, I probably would’ve ignored it even longer,” she said.
If you’re in pain, or if something feels off, don’t wait. Trust your gut. Get answers. And if the first answer doesn’t feel right – keep asking.
Your life could depend on it. Share this story, please!
