A woman who couldn’t dance at her work Christmas party has told of her surprise when she discovered her back pain was actually cancer.
Gynecologist Ellissa Baskind initially thought the cause of the discomfort was bending over women for operations when she couldn’t participate in holiday parties.
But the persistence of the pain and its impact on her daily life led the 46-year-old to seek medical help, at which point abnormalities were discovered in her blood tests.
Baskind, a mother of two, got a clear X-ray, but doctors asked her to be admitted to the hospital.
He was then diagnosed with leukemia shock and told to undergo more tests.
The Leeds local said she was “in disbelief” at the results as the only symptoms she had experienced were back pain between her shoulder blades.
Baskind added: “At the time (I was diagnosed) I was doing a lot of operations and you get into a lot of uncomfortable positions. It’s just the nature of the job.
‘In my job it is not uncommon to have back pain. My shoulder blades hurt and kept me awake at night.
The persistence of the pain and its impact on her daily life led the 46-year-old woman to seek medical help, at which time abnormalities were discovered in her blood tests.
Gynecologist Ellissa Baskind initially thought the cause of the discomfort was bending over women for operations when she couldn’t participate in holiday parties.
Ms Baskind during her cancer treatment after being diagnosed with leukemia in 2019, which left her unable to dance.
‘Even as a doctor you don’t think about the worst things. I really thought it was related to my work.
“I never thought it was something sinister.
‘I wasn’t sure I would be able to attend the Christmas party because this pain was bothering me a lot. It was at the forefront of my mind.
“The pain prevented me from dancing and being able to fully enjoy myself.”
Speaking of the doctors’ initial report, Mrs Baskind said: “I remember the conversation quite well. He told me it could be two types of leukemia and told me about the different treatments for both.
‘There was a lot of disbelief. I felt completely fine, it was just the back pain. I felt great and was working more than full time.
‘All I was thinking about was how long until I can get back to normal life and get back to work.
“It never crossed my mind that it would be anything more serious than chemotherapy. I think I was a little naive.
After a failed round of chemotherapy, Ms Baskind urgently received a stem cell transplant which she underwent during the pandemic.
‘I stopped myself from thinking about anything bad. I didn’t keep it at the forefront of my mind.
After a failed round of chemotherapy, Ms Baskind received an urgent stem cell transplant which she underwent during the pandemic before discovering a lump in her breast 18 months later.
Tragically, the mother even turned to researching palliative care after discovering she had myeloid sarcoma, a rare type of cancerous tumor, but fortunately, another stem cell transplant and more chemotherapy were finally successful.
As a result of the tumor, a cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells, characterized by the rapid growth of abnormal cells, Ms. Baskind had to undergo two rounds of chemotherapy.
She said: “When I was alone in the hospital room, I started to realize that this was real and it was actually happening to me.
‘It was strange going from working in this hospital to becoming a patient. I was living in the hospital.
‘Not a day went by when a colleague didn’t come to see me. I was very lucky.
‘If we look at the literature, there is no cure for myeloid sarcoma. I thought it was a palliative. That night I was researching palliative care and thought it was the end of the road.
The tumor was a cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells, characterized by the rapid growth of abnormal cells.
Ms Baskind underwent another stem cell transplant in 2022, which was successful, before completing two more rounds of chemotherapy in June.
‘The doctors asked me how much fight I had left and I said I’m only interested in a cure.
“They said there is a chance of a cure, but it is very remote and another stem cell transplant would be needed.”
He underwent another stem cell transplant in 2022, which was successful, before completing two more rounds of chemotherapy in June.
Now, the gynecologist is pleased to say that she is in “better health” and has turned five years old, which is “a real milestone.”
And she added: ‘I am very lucky.
‘The best advice I have for people going through cancer treatment is to take it each day at a time.
‘I feel very lucky to be alive. And it has changed the way I approach patients, since I am one of them myself.
‘I looked back and felt great apart from the back pain. I could have easily moved on with my life and missed it. Listen to your body and don’t ignore your symptoms; Keep looking for answers and persevere until you know what’s going on.’