‘Happy-Go-Lucky’ Adventure Girl, 23, Needs Shoulder Removal Surgery After Doctors Find an ‘Avocado-Sized’ Bone Tumor She Thought Was Rock Climbing Injury

A Delayed Diagnosis

• Fun-loving 23-year-old Cat Holden is sharing how she went from living a “happy-go-lucky” adventurous lifestyle to needing around-the-clock care during chemotherapy following a shocking cancer diagnosis. The London-based underwriter now awaits surgery to have her shoulder removed on June 11.
• After first thinking she had a sports-related injury after inconclusive tests, doctors finally found an “avocado-sized” tumor on Cat’s shoulder bone. It wound up being an extremely rare cancer — a giant cell tumor, which is typically benign, or non-cancerous.
• If something doesn’t feel right, it’s probably not, especially if the pain keeps getting worse and you’re not getting any answers. If you’re not satisfied with what your doctor is telling you, or if you think you need further testing, go seek out a second — or third — opinion.

Fun-loving 23-year-old Cat Holden is sharing how she went from living a "happy-go-lucky" adventurous lifestyle, rock climbing and skydiving, to needing around-the-clock care during chemotherapy. After first thinking she had a sports-related injury, doctors found an "avocado-sized" tumor on Cat's shoulder bone and it wound up being an extremely rare cancer — a giant cell tumor, which is typically benign, or non-cancerous. "Getting cancer was a really pivotal point in my life because everything was happy-go-lucky and I was confronted by something I never thought would happen," Cat shared in an interview published by DailyMail.com via SWNS. RELATED : Mother, 23, Diagnosed with Bone Cancer During Pregnancy Has ‘Football-Sized’ Tumor Removed from Jaw After Giving Birth The London-based assistant underwriter said her diagnosis was the "darkest day" of her life as she now struggles to cope with the physical effects from treatment as she awaits shoulder removal surgery on June 11. Soon after her diagnosis, Cat learned she needed six to nine months of chemotherapy and said it was "devastating" hearing she may never have "full function" of her shoulder.

Cat is due to have her entire shoulder removed, along with her upper arm bone, which will be replaced with a metal prosthetic. RELATED : Mom, 26, Suddenly 'Shattered' Knee Bones Sitting Down on Toilet — Her Doctors Discovered a Tumor that May Have Been Growing for Years Though it's understandably "daunting" for Cat to think about at this time, she said she is looking "forward to the future." "I'm going to carry the trauma of this with me forever — but I'll be appreciating life so much more after this." she said. At first, Cat and her doctors had assumed it was tendonitis after an ultrasound did not reveal anything unusual, but Cat kept pushing for more tests when the pain got worse. Finally, after more testing, including an MRI, they spotted the rare cancer. And for that she is ever grateful.

Advocating for Your Health

If something doesn’t feel right, it’s probably not, especially if the pain keeps getting worse and you're not getting any answers. Some people ignore pain because of fear of finding out what could be wrong, or just explain it away and pop some over-the-counter drugs, as Cat was first told to do. In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, Dr. Zuri Murrell from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center shared how important it is to follow what your body is telling you and advocate for your own health. Be Pushy, Be Your Own Advocate … Don’t Settle “The truth is you have to be in tune with your body,” Dr. Murrell said, noting that “you should lead each doctor’s appointment with a plan — every appointment you leave as a patient, there should be a plan for what the doc is going to do for you.” If you’re not satisfied with what your doctor is telling you, go seek out a second — or third — opinion.

What Is a Giant Cell Tumor?

According to NCI , a giant cell tumor is a "rare tumor that usually forms in the bone, but may also form in cartilage, muscle, fat, blood vessels, or other supportive tissues in the body." "Most giant cell tumors occur at the ends of the long bones of the arms and legs, near a joint (such as the knee, wrist, hip, or shoulder). Most are benign (not cancer) but some are malignant (cancer)." The description adds that giant cell tumors "usually occur in young and middle-aged adults." Bethany Eason, a mother of one, was just 19 when she first told her doctor she had been experiencing knee pain. At the time, her doctor gave her an X-ray and mentioned that “something [was] there." But he reportedly wasn’t certain of exactly what was appearing in the scans. Bethany was referred to a physical therapist, but the pains continued to impact her daily life. She recalled one day in February 2017 where she experienced intense knee pain while going up the stairs. She then went to the bathroom and as she sat on the toilet, she felt her knee bones break. "I felt this immense pain and it was almost like a pop," Bethany described. She was rushed to the hospital and that is when doctors discovered the root cause of her intense knee pain. She had a giant cell tumor. Bethany underwent surgery, which resulted in knee and thigh bone replacement because of the tumor. She grew concerned the surgery would impact her active lifestyle, something so many people fighting health issues are familiar with. ‘Don’t Push Things Off, Life Is For Living’ "I was told when I had surgery that 99% of patients wouldn't have full mobility after surgery," she said. This revelation burdened the young mother, because she enjoyed dancing, running, and swimming. "[I] thought I would never be able to do those things again." People impacted by giant cell tumors may notice a bump or lump in the body part the tumor is found. Pain, swelling, and fractures are also symptoms associated with giant cell tumors. Surgery is often the primary course of treatment. RELATED : Real Housewife, 33, Was Pregnant When Diagnosed with Cancer, Coping With Treatment And Devastation Although surgery left a long scar on Eason's leg that lasted for a while, it eventually healed. She spent time after surgery regaining her strength through physical therapy and home exercises. Her efforts paid off and she is now getting back to the mobile lifestyle she loves. "I didn't know what my life was going to look like. Now I can do all those things they thought I wouldn't be able to I can kneel and run after my little boy," Bethany said. She hopes other people who learn from her experience take away the value of advocating for yourself and listening to your body. "It's really important to raise awareness of rare tumors; you wouldn't think a pain in your knee would be something like that."

Coping with Mental and Physical Changes

One way you can prepare yourself for possible body changes during a health issue is to understand that while some may be lasting symptoms, other symptoms may be temporary. When facing these challenges, SurvivorNet experts recommend preparing yourself by working on your self-confidence and making sure to lean on your support group during darker days. Psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin , in a previous interview with SurvivorNet, shared some tips that people battling a health condition can explore to help manage the emotional toll body changes can have during treatment. Responding to Stress: How to Cope With Complex & Changing Emotions Dr. Strongin suggests looking at the part or parts of your body impacted by your health battle. She recommends creating a regular practice of accepting your body image because it helps you accept your health journey emotionally and physically. "As you allow yourself to spend more time looking at all of you, you will begin having a new relationship with your body. It may not happen immediately, but with time you can begin honoring and thanking your new body," Dr. Strongin said. Anxiety, anger, sadness, and depression are all normal feelings you may find yourself wrestling with. A Guided Meditation for the SurvivorNet Community Psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik told SurvivorNet in a prior interview that when going through a stressful event, accept that emotions will be fluid. You may feel fine one day and then feel a massive wave of stress the next. "They can recede and return based on where someone is in the process," Dr. Plutchik explained. "Going through a cancer diagnosis is just the beginning of a complicated, complicated process.”

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

• What can I do if my emotions begin to feel overwhelming?
• Are there approaches that don’t involve traditional therapy?
• Should I consider medication such as antidepressants?
• What are the potential side effects should I decide to begin medication?