Woman running marathon after dad's cancer recovery

A woman said she was inspired to run her first marathon by her dad's rare cancer diagnosis.

Zoë Driver, who lives in Wylye near Salisbury in Wiltshire, will take on the London Marathon on Sunday to raise money for charity Sarcoma UK after her dad, Richard, was diagnosed with liposarcoma in 2023.

Mr Driver saw a doctor after complaining about back pain and bloating, and was found to have a "tumour the size of a rugby ball", his daughter said, which was subsequently removed. He is now cancer free.

Helen Stradling from Sarcoma UK urged anyone experiencing persistent pain, swelling or lumps to "seek medical advice promptly".

According to the charity, sarcoma is a cancer that starts in the soft tissue, bones, or as a gastrointestinal stromal tumour.

Liposarcoma, which retired IT consultant Mr Driver was diagnosed with after writing his symptoms off as a tennis injury, develops in fat cells.

"He had a tumour the size of a rugby ball which he had to have removed alongside several organs," Ms Driver, 32, said.

Her father's surgery went well but his recovery was tough, as he was not able to eat or drink for six weeks.

Mr Driver experienced vomiting and sepsis, which was caused by what was left of his pancreas and gallbladder leaking into his bloodstream.

He also had a heart attack, expected to be caused by the pressure his body was under, and one of his lungs started to shut down.

Now, he is cancer free, and his daughter is planning to raise money for Sarcoma UK by running the London Marathon on 27 April.

"It's such a rare cancer," Ms Driver said.

"It's really hard to know the symptoms of it and I just wanted to do something that would raise a bit more awareness and hopefully a good amount of money to go to the charity."

Ms Stradling urged anyone with persistent pain, swelling or lumps to seek medical advice "promptly".

"These rare tumours can grow silently for years, and symptoms are often mistaken for everyday aches and pains," she said.

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