Sophia Yasin thought her severe sickness and night sweats were just normal pregnancy symptoms. The 29-year-old tenancy support worker from Middlesbrough had recently bought a house with her husband Lewis Osborne, a 29-year-old fraud agent, and was delighted to be expecting their first child in June 2024.
But the symptoms she dismissed as "really bad" morning sickness were actually signs of a life-threatening cancer. "I was getting sickness all day every few hours. I was getting night sweats, and itchiness through the night. I was very uncomfortable. Everyone told me it was very normal in the first trimester and should ease up," Sophia said.
At 14 weeks pregnant, Sophia collapsed at work in September 2024 and was rushed to hospital. "I remember seeing black and I blacked out," she recalled.
Cancer diagnosis shock
Doctors initially suspected pneumonia but scans and a biopsy revealed a devastating truth. Sophia had pre-mediastinal B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma - a tumour over her heart that was nearly the same size as the organ itself.
"I did have some worry but I thought it was normal for my first pregnancy. Because I was pregnant I was prioritised. In a way because I was pregnant they found the cancer in time," Sophia explained.
While on the ward, a woman gave Sophia a Macmillan card. "I burst out crying. I thought 'what has she given me this for?'" she said. The diagnosis was confirmed on September 12, 2024.
Heartbreaking decision under pressure
"I remember saying 'what does this mean for the baby?'. I remember being numb," Sophia said. The rapidly growing mass meant doctors had to act immediately, giving her just hours to make an impossible choice.
"They gave me the time scale of a few hours to decide what to do. The mass was getting big quite quick," she said. Sophia faced terminating her pregnancy to begin life-saving chemotherapy, or risk both their lives by continuing.
She and Lewis made the agonising decision to terminate at 15 weeks. Sophia gave birth to their daughter, whom they named Kainaat Pearl, while already starting chemotherapy treatment through a drip. "She was absolutely beautiful and very tiny," Sophia said.
Fight for survival and recovery
Sophia underwent six intensive rounds of chemotherapy while grieving her loss. "I went into fight or flight mode. I was grieving a baby but trying to have treatment," she explained.
"I lost a lot in a short period of time. I went from looking at prams and cots to looking at wigs. I lost my hair, my baby and my old life," she said.
Her determination paid off - Sophia achieved remission in January 2025. She is now commemorating her diagnosis date with a 7km fundraising walk for Lymphoma Action with friends and family.
"Every step will be taking it for the baby and everyone we've lost," she said. Sophia hopes to try for another baby but has been advised to wait two years due to cancer recurrence risks.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
