Story
On the 8th February 2019, just two weeks after celebrating his 24th birthday, semi-professional footballer Spencer McCall was given the devastating news that what was previously diagnosed as a stress fracture, following a football injury, was infact Ewing’s Sarcoma (cancer in the bone). Spencer had been unaware that he had been suffering with a tumour in his tibia bone for almost a year. After numerous visits to various healthcare professionals and months of excruciating pain from April 2018, he decided to visit his Doctor. After no concerns from multiple visits to the Doctor and other healthcare professsionals, Spencer was advised to seek an MRI scan privately, which he did. The report following this scan mentioned a possible tumour and Spencer was subsquently referred to a specialist bone unit by his GP. Spencer then went on to experience a cancer scare in October 2018 however despite lengthy discussions between specialist consultants, he was told that they were certain the diagnosis was only a stress fracture and no biopsy was taken. He was advised to spend 3 months on crutches (non weight bearing) and then return to the hospital with the hope the ‘fracture’ would have healed. Spencer was told he was not to play football for the rest of the season. The pain (and visible swelling) worsened significantly, resulting in Spencer returning to the hospital after 6 weeks, where he was advised to see out the remaining 6 weeks on crutches as it was ”only a stress fracture”. In the 11th week, when the pain was becoming unbearable, Spencer returned to the doctor and his follow up MRI was brought forward. After changes in the MRI images from 3 months ago, a biopsy was taken; resulting in the shock Ewing’s Sarcoma diagnosis in early February. Ewing's Sarcoma is a rare type of bone cancer. Bone cancer is rare in itself, with only around 600 people in the UK being diagnosed every year. The cause is unknown. Spencer will go through chemotherapy in the hope that this will shrink the tumour, and this will then be followed by surgery to remove the tumour, and then further chemotherapy. Spencer has had a passion for football since a young age, attending his first football game at the age of only 3. He played for Valencia, had a professional scholarship with Stevenage FC and most recently, he is a valued player at the National League South Club, Hemel Hempstead Town FC. Receiving the original news he’d be out for the rest of the season with a stress fracture was devastating enough for Spencer, but nothing could’ve prepared him for the news he has bone cancer, and will most likely never be able to play the game he lives and breathes again. Following the news, Spencer was immediately booked in for numerous appointments at University College Hospital London to begin his fight against cancer. He started chemotherapy on the 20th February, which is now in full swing. Thank you for supporting cancer research and also Spencer and his family. xxxxx