My name’s Samantha Poulton - I’m known as Sam. I’m 32 years of age. I’ve been a hairdresser all of my working life, working for the same salon - Hair Management in Warwick. I live at home with my Mum and my Sister, Emily.

First of all, I’d like to say that I’m not a girl who likes being the centre of attention - I’ve resisted against putting too much about myself or my journey on social media - but my family won’t sit back and just accept that there’s nothing more to be done for the person they love so much.

This is my story - thanks for getting this far, and if you do read my story, then thank you so much.

In February 2019, I found a ‘cyst’ like lump on the outside of my foot - and after being initially dismissed at the GP’s, it was found to be cancer. In September 2019, I was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer called Synovial Sarcoma.

I was told the best way to treat it and to have a good quality of life was to undergo a partial leg amputation. I was devastated! So on the 31 October 2019, my leg was amputated just below my knee. Even though it was life changing, I thought that with physio and eventually a prosthetic leg I’d be able to at least get my life back.

I was warned that I’d need follow up scans every 3 months for the next 10 years because of a potential risk of the cancer spreading to the lungs.

In February 2020, I was declared “NED’ - no evidence of disease. I and my family were absolutely over the moon. I’d beaten it and was cancer free.

But that was short-lived - and in March 2020 I found some other lumps in my groin. I then endured the scariness of yet more uncertainty - of going backwards and forwards for numerous scans…CT scan, MRI scan and another PET scan.

On the 16 March 2020, I received a phone call from the hospital asking for me to come in and see them the following day. So, the next day my mum drove me back to the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham - where I was given, what I can only describe as the most truly shocking news of my life, that the cancer had returned and spread to the lymph nodes in my groin, my hip in my good leg, and my spine.

I asked what they could do - chemo, radiotherapy, surgery? And I was told there was nothing they could do except provide some radiotherapy as and when, to manage the growth of the tumours and the pain.

My mum and I left that consultation room in a daze, and my mum said come on Sam let’s go home.

But we couldn’t take it in - none of us could. Was this a joke because surely this couldn’t be happening to me. Why? What have I ever done to have to suffer something as cruel as this?

I am broken - my family are broken. I’d been told in February that I was cancer free. Did they miss something? Why didn’t it show up on the previous scans?

From that 45 minute or so consultation, my world’s turned upside down and I’m terrified. I’m not a brave person. I’ve always suffered with anxiety, but this has taken it to a completely new level. I can’t sleep - I absolutely hate the night time because if I’m truly honest I don’t think I’m going to wake up the next day.

The pain in my lower back has been bad, I mean excruciatingly painful. So I got back in touch with my consultant and I went back for yet another MRI scan. They called me on Tuesday 21 April 2020 to tell me the cancer’s progressed in my hip (in my good leg) and they want to give me a partial hip replacement - if they don’t it’s likely the tumour will break my hip/pelvis - and my consultant’s said that the pain from that would be agonising.

So, I’m going back into hospital on Thursday 30 April 2020 - and my surgery is scheduled the following day - Friday 1 May 2020. Due to COVID-19, I can't have anybody with me. My mum has to drop me at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital and leave me there for 5-10 days. I'm scared.

My research has shown (and I’ve googled everything) and I know people say you shouldn’t - that others throughout the world, who too, have suffered from Synovial Sarcoma - have been given much more options than I’m being given. They’ve had immunotherapy, proton beam therapy, chemotherapy and surgery and are still here. .

I need to raise enough money to be able to go private - because unfortunately the NHS is not able to offer me the other therapies that the private cancer hospitals can. They’ve said there’s not enough research gone on for Synovial Sarcoma.

I’m asking if you’re able to help - anything, however small - and it might just give me the chance to save my life!

Once, again thank you for reading my story.

Sam xx