A grandmother’s routine visit to the GP for a ‘cricked’ neck turned into a nightmare when she received a devastating diagnosis that changed her life forever. Esther Shoebridge, 59, initially sought relief for her neck pain but was shocked to discover that she was battling myeloma, a form of blood cancer, with ‘millions of holes’ and tumors scattered throughout her body.

Esther’s journey began with seemingly innocuous symptoms like unquenchable thirst and numbness, which gradually escalated into a debilitating condition. Despite her struggles, she was only prescribed painkillers for her neck discomfort, unaware of the underlying cause.

After enduring months of mysterious ailments, Esther received the crushing news from doctors that her spine, neck, and skull were riddled with ‘millions of holes,’ giving her a bleak prognosis of just five years to live. The revelation left her in tears, grappling with the grim reality of her condition.

Reflecting on the diagnosis, Esther shared, ‘All I could think was that my skull had millions of holes in it and was going to collapse into my head.’ The discovery of two small tumors penetrating her C3 vertebrae, initially mistaken for neck pain, shed light on the severity of her situation.

Her health ordeal began in October 2020 when she noticed an insatiable thirst that led her to consume up to four liters of water daily, despite never feeling satisfied. The relentless thirst was one of the early signs of the underlying myeloma, signaling the silent progression of the disease within her body.

As Esther grapples with the harsh reality of her diagnosis, she has embarked on a fundraising campaign for Myeloma UK, aiming to raise awareness and support for others battling this relentless disease. Her journey serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of early detection and proactive healthcare, urging individuals to prioritize their well-being and seek medical attention for any persistent or unusual symptoms.