A gynaecologist mistook her back pain for work stress, only to find out she had cancer
Leeds: A gynaecologist named Ellissa Baskind thought her back pain was just from her job. She was bending over patients a lot, so it made sense, right? But then, things took a shocking turn.
Five years ago, at her work Christmas party, she couldn’t dance because of the pain. That’s when she decided to get it checked out. An x-ray didn’t show much, but blood tests revealed something alarming.
Ellissa was diagnosed with leukaemia, and she was stunned. She had no other symptoms, just that nagging back pain. It felt unreal to her. She was busy with work and thought it was just the usual aches from being a doctor.
After a tough round of chemotherapy, she had to get a stem cell transplant. Then, 18 months later, she found a lump in her breast. It was another blow. She even started looking into hospice care, thinking it was the end.
But Ellissa wasn’t ready to give up. She pushed for more treatment and got another stem cell transplant, which finally worked. Now, she’s celebrating five years of being cancer-free.
She’s learned a lot from this journey. Ellissa says it’s crucial to listen to your body. If something feels off, don’t just brush it aside. Keep seeking answers until you get the help you need. She feels lucky to be alive and is grateful for every day.
