Family sets up national charity to help others with mystery cancer

By mcollison

The sister of a woman who was killed by a mysterious cancer has spoken out about her plight.

Jo Symons, of Wheelers Lane, Brockham, died in September 2006 after battling with a cancer unknown to doctors.

The cancer was discovered that year, but doctors' inability to pinpoint the cause made the death of the 46-year-old graphic designer all the more upsetting for her family.

Mrs McEwan watched as Jo endured three different chemotherapy regimes over eight months.

By the time of her death GPs still remained baffled as to where her cancer had originated.

Sister Philippa McEwan said: "The short answer is they never found it.

"Initially they thought it was breast cancer and then they thought it was ovary cancer.

"They said they would get to the bottom of it, we cannot offer a miracle cure but we can offer hope of remission but sadly we never got that.

"They kept saying we will give you more tests, but every test came up with a negative result."

As a victim of CUP - which stands for Cancer of Unknown Primary site - Jo had joined 10,000 people a year in the UK, whose primary cancer remains a mystery.

Yet despite the large statistic, Philippa felt there was not enough help and support.

Last year, along with friends and family, she set about setting up a national charity, the Cancer of Unknown Primary Foundation – Jo's Friends.

Philippa, 52, said: "Most people have never heard of CUP and find it hard to believe that the cause of the cancer spread can remain unknown."

She added: "When my sister died, her closest friends and family including her husband sat down and said 'What can we do for other patients and families who unfortunately find themselves in the same situation?'

"What we want to do is offer a lifeline to people in the unenviable position of having a CUP.

"It is bad enough being told you have got cancer, but when you say 'where is it' and they say 'we're not sure' it is doubly upsetting."

The foundation will stage its first international conference in London on October 15. She said: "We are offering a lifeline for people that might feel they have been abandoned."

Philippa will be holding a Teas on the Green event at Christ Church, Brockham Green, on September 6 to raise awareness.