Woman, 34, thought she had flu- but it was a one-in-a-million cancer

A Lancashire woman's 'flu' symptoms turned out to be the telltale signs of a little-known, aggressive cancer that affects one in a million people.

Emma Snape, 34, began to come down with traditional cold-like symptoms in February, which quickly escalated, landing her in hospital.

Doctors at first diagnosed pneumonia, a serious and sometimes life-threatening lung infection.

Yet further tests showed the underlying illness to be epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) — an extremely rare form of cancer than forms in the cells that line the blood vessels.

 EHE is most commonly associated with young and middle-aged adults, and is more common in women.

One of the signs of EHE is a dry cough that causes difficulty breathing. 

Other symptoms include a lump or swelling in the soft tissue of the body under the skin, and stomach pain along with weight loss if the disease is present in the liver.  

When Emma was diagnosed, doctors found 20 nodules in her lungs and more in her omentum — the fatty tissue extends from the stomach to the intestines.

Doctors said her disease was terminal. Only half of those diagnosed with the condition will live longer than five years, studies show. 

Emma has since been in and out of hospital for dozens of appointments and treatments.

Speaking of the ordeal, Emma's twin sister Kym, a mother of two, said: '[It's been] heartbreaking to watch her go through this.

 'It's technically a terminal diagnosis as there's no cure for it. It's been the hardest year.

'With her being my twin, it's been so hard for me not being able to control this situation and make her better as she is literally my other half.'

Emma, also a mother of two, described her sister as 'the real superwoman', referring to her unwavering help in her time of need.

'I don't know what I'd have done without Kym,' she said. 'From day one after getting my diagnosis she's been full into research, fundraising, gathering all sorts of different contacts to help me, whilst having her own young family to care for.

'It's been so wonderfully overwhelming how generous and kind people have been. Everyone just wants to help, my work, small businesses, family and friends.

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'People really have come together for me.'

Kym addded that that some days her sister suffers 'agonising pain' due to her condition. 

'She's fighting against this disease every day whilst remaining the world's best mummy to her two boys and partner.'

Kym has set up a donation page to raise money for the EHE Rare Cancer Charity (EHERCC), which is working hard to find a cure.

She has so far garnered over £6,000 from big-hearted locals and will take on a sponsored run in November to help pull in further cash.

Kym, said: 'I have taken control in the only way possible which is to learn about this disease and to raise money for critical research to take place in the hope of finding a cure.'