Jake Spencer, 17, suffered three years of thigh pain diagnosed as sciatica. The reality was much more serious: a synovial sarcoma, rare and aggressive cancer. Dr. Gérald Kierzek analyzes this case and reveals the alert signs that doctors and patients should monitor.
THE Diagnostic errors can have dramatic consequences, as illustrated by the case of Jake Spencer. This 17 -year -old British teenager endured three years of suffering, his thigh pain being attributed to a simple sciatica. Reality was much more alarming: a cancer. This delay diagnosis allowed the tumor to progress. Dr. Gérald Kierzek, medical director of Doctissimo, analyzes the alert signs that should have orient towards additional examinations.
An erroneous diagnosis with dramatic consequences
Three years of medical wandering for a teenager
Jake Spencer was 17 years old when the first thigh pain. Occurred during a driving course, this pain in the left thigh is quickly diagnosed as a sciatica by doctors. Despite the prescription of pain relievers, the pain persists. The young man then continues radios, physiotherapy and shock waves without improvement. This medical wandering will last three long years, the period during which real disease progresses silently in its body, considerably complicating the prognosis and future treatment. His case recalls that of Reyna, a young woman suffering from shoulder pain who nevertheless hid cancer.
Late discovery of an aggressive synovial sarcoma
In 2020, new exams finally reveal the terrible reality: Jake suffered from a sarcome synovialrare and aggressive cancer that attacks the soft tissue of the body. When the diagnosis was announced, the adolescent expresses his frustration: “Many signs and symptoms have been missed” Despite the repeated expression of his pain. Paradoxically, he also feels relief from the idea that “This pain is not only in his head”. Ce soft fabric cancer had had time to spread, making treatment more complex and leaving lasting consequences.
Salvartrier operation and permanent sequelae
In May 2020, Jake underwent surgery to remove the cancer tumor. Now 26 years old, he testifies to the Daily Mail: “Despite the fact that I lost part of my muscles and that I suffer from persistent orthopedic problems, I am really grateful that cancer has been removed and I remain positive”. The young man recognizes his chance of having survived this aggressive cancer. He explains: “In a way, I am grateful to have hurt, because I heard stories of horror of people who never knew that they had a sarcoma before it was too late”. A chance for the young man that the tumor is not propagated as for Alice, a young woman of 27 years with breast cancer.
Alert signs according to Dr Gérald Kierzek
Age as the first suspicious indicator
Dr. Gérald Kierzek, medical director of Doctissimo, underlines that the age of Jake should have constituted a alarm signal. “It is a bit early to make sciatica at 17”he explains. This crucial observation should have orient doctors towards further investigations. Sciatica is indeed more frequent in adults, especially after 40 years. In a teenager, this unusual pain Requires a different and more in -depth diagnostic approach, especially with imaging examinations such as MRI to eliminate other more serious potential causes.
Painful persistence despite the treatments
The Treatment resistance Another major indicator according to Dr. Kierzek is a major indicator. “Persistent pain, despite the drug treatment (painkillers)” should have alerted practitioners. A real sciatica generally responds to the anti-inflammatory and analgesic prescribed, specifies Doctissimo. The lack of improvement after several weeks of well -conducted treatment requires diagnostic reassessment. This Symptomatic persistence suggests an underlying cause more complex than a simple nervous compression.
Night pain and associated motor disorders
Dr. Kierzek insists on two others alert signs crucial: “Night pain: that of an inflammatory type, which awakens at night” et “Motor disorders as a weakness felt at the level of the member”. These symptoms differ clearly from a classic sciatica which generally improves at rest. THE Inflammatory pain Nocturnes evoke tumor or infectious processes requiring urgent exploration. Motor disorders reflect a deeper involvement of nerve or muscle structures.
