She shares her story to inspire other parents, amputees, and people affected by bone cancer.
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My name is Christine and I'm a mum to two beautiful daughters and wife to my husband, Damien.
I have worked as a solicitor for many years and I have also recently re-learnt how to cycle again post-amputation. I am also living with stage four chondrosarcoma.
I first began experiencing pain and swelling in my heel as early as 2019, which I put down to a running injury. My symptoms came and went over a couple of years. I was misdiagnosed with peroneal tendonitis whilst receiving physiotherapy in 2020 - the recommended treatment was a steroid injection, but this was delayed as I fell pregnant with my first daughter, Sophie.
After giving birth in June 2021, I returned for my injection in September 2021. Before my injection, I needed an ultrasound of my heel to check where the injection site would be, and this scan picked up that nothing was wrong with my tendon. Instead, it showed something suspicious in my heel which was outside of their remit as physiotherapists.
This triggered a series of events: I was referred for an MRI scan, which found a mass, and then I was referred to the Oxford Sarcoma Service in late 2021. At this point, I began to feel scared. A biopsy was taken in December 2021 and I was diagnosed in January 2022.
When my consultant first diagnosed me with chondrosarcoma in my heel, this didn't really mean anything to me as I hadn't heard of it. My immediate concern was: what would treatment look like? I was on maternity leave with my daughter, and walking was incredibly painful.
I needed surgery to remove the chondrosarcoma - if this would make me more mobile for my daughter, than I was ready to crack on. The surgery was successful, and my follow-up scans came back clear.
In 2023, I was pregnant with my second daughter when I started to notice swelling in my foot again. I was referred back to the Oxford Sarcoma Service, and in May 2023, it was confirmed that my chondrosarcoma had recurred. It had been explained to me quite early on that chemotherapy was ineffective for a conventional chondrosarcoma diagnosis, so I knew at this point amputation had to be the next step.
I remember hearing my consultant say: my job is to save your life, not your leg.
I saw amputation as the best opportunity to see my children grow up. My local prosthetic centre was great, and I started physiotherapy as soon as I could after my amputation to prepare myself for rehabilitation.
I came across the Bone Cancer Research Trust when searching online for guidance on what life would be like for me after my amputation. I was hardly provided any notice for it and I wanted to find out as much information as possible. I found BCRT's amputation resources an insight into what to expect.
My leg was amputated on 28th June 2023. As a mother and an amputee, I felt as if there was no-one I could related to, and I supported myself by searching for others like me. I set up a separate Instagram to share my experience, and at last found the meaningful connections I had been looking for.
It was inspiring to see other women and mothers remain active and make adaptations to carry on their daily lives.
I have certainly faced some challenges since my amputation - I cannot walk for as long as before, and escalators can be tricky due to balance difficulties. I have been able to set up my house and daily life with adjustments that enable my usual routine. But as soon as I go out my comfort zone and go somewhere new it can result in a guessing game - how accessible will the pavement or restaurant be?
Post-amputation, I was receiving three-monthly scans. In April 2024, I received an update regarding my latest scan which showed cancerous nodules in my lungs, which had grown since my previous scans. A wedge of my lung was surgically removed in May 2024 and on 4th June, my surgeon confirmed that my chondrosarcoma had metastasised to my lungs. At this point, it was confirmed my prognosis was terminal.
I received the call that confirmed my chondrosarcoma had metastasised on my daughter's third birthday - it's a date I'll never forget.
It was devastating to receive this news, and it is heartbreaking to process that I won't see my children grow up. It also felt bizarre - I hadn't experienced any symptoms related to my lungs like laboured breathing, so it just didn't make any sense.
I have tried to be as present as possible since my secondary diagnosis. Every month, I create a digital memory box for my daughters to look back on - I write them an email, include some photos and round up the things we've done that month as a family.
Right now, my cancer isn't actively holding me back from being part of my children's lives and I feel well. In fact, it's my amputation that challenges me more than my active cancer diagnosis. Learning how to re-balance on a bike has been a weird experience! I'm also unable to stand to pedal up hills, but despite this, I recently cycled 56 miles.
I know at some point this balance will change as my focus will shift to the impact the chondrosarcoma has on my lungs. Until that point, I focus on one day at a time.
Despite my amputation holding me back in certain ways, I am also surprised by what I can do with my prosthetic leg. In March 2025, I began to learn how to cycle again to train for Sir Chris Hoy's charity bike ride, Tour De 4, which took place on 7th September 2025. I raised over £10,000 for cancer research and was blown away by the magic of the day.
The cancer community, even the stage four cancer community, can still achieve wonderful things!
My advice to others is that you are not alone, even though it may feel like it at times. You may have to push to find those connections with others, and to find the right information and resources. However, please don't suffer in silence. Advocate for yourself, reach out to people, and focus on the here and now.
I'm passionate about being remembered as more than just 'Christine with cancer'. I'm Christine - a mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend and so much more.
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