Woman walks again after miraculous recovery from cancer which left her paralysed

A woman who was paralysed following a rare complication of cancer has thanked the doctor who treated her at Worcestershire Royal Hospital after shocking experts and learning to walk again.

Sylvia Cameron, 79, was diagnosed with paraplegic lymphoma after cancer had affected her spine and left her completely bed bound and unable to move or care for herself.

Specialists at Worcestershire Royal Hospital found that non-Hodgkin lymphoma was causing tumours which were compressing her spinal nerve and led to paralysis of her legs and lower body.

Consultant Haematologist, Dr Salim Shafeek put Sylvia on a strong course of chemotherapy treatment to shrink the tumours on her spinal cord which were causing the paralysis, but her medical team did not expect her to ever walk again.

Dr Shafeek said: “It is incredibly rare to walk again once you’re paraplegic – I have never seen it before in my career. She was completely unable to move for herself and we thought she would never walk again, so to now be standing up and walking around is really incredible.”

In October 2022 Sylvia came to A&E in severe pain and unable to stand after she “felt something snap” in her back. After a series of tests doctors diagnosed her with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Sylvia spent the next nine weeks in Worcestershire Royal Hospital completely unable to stand or move, whilst she received medication for the severe pain in her back and chemotherapy to treat the lymphoma which had caused her paralysis. As Sylvia remained bed bound, the Haematology team had to adapt and provide her chemotherapy treatment in the ward she was staying on instead of the usual chemotherapy suite in the hospital.

She was eventually discharged to a care home where Sylvia began receiving basic physiotherapy to improve her range of movement and enable her to be more comfortable.

Sylvia said: “I eventually got to come home in March 2023 and finished my course of chemotherapy soon after. I met some lovely people during my treatment who were also going through their own experiences. I seemed to be the different one, but we all Gee’d each other up and encouraged each other.

“In the summer of 2023 I finally got the all clear that my lymphoma was gone, but I could still barely stand with the help of frame.”

Sylvia was later recommended some physiotherapists who specialise in Neurological Rehabilitation. After months of hard work and determination Sylvia began to build her strength and increasingly move around with the help of a standing frame.

In recent weeks Sylvia has improved her mobility more and more and can now walk over 200 metres outside, can move around her home and make food in the kitchen independently.

“It’s amazing really. I am a lot more independent now which makes a huge difference to my life. When I first started walking with a support brace I had to relearn everything again – I felt like a baby”, Sylvia explained.

Returning to Worcestershire Royal Hospital for a follow-up appointment with Dr Shafeek recently, Sylvia amazed him by standing up and walking in the treatment room. 

Dr Shafeek explained: “When Sylvia stood up and walked at our appointment it was a huge shock, but it was incredible to see. I have never seen this improvement before in three decades of my career. It’s a testament to her determination and motivation to get walking again.”

Sylvia said: “Dr Shafeek has been marvellous, he really is a special doctor. He rang me straight away after our follow-up and put me on such a high. 

“All the staff have been brilliant actually. I do feel very lucky as I’ve lost friends and family members to cancer. I just take it day by day and enjoy it, I’ve got my grandchildren and my lovely family so I feel very lucky.”