A young athlete in training thought she was just suffering from a ‘muscle strain’ in her leg. At just 15-years-old, Maria Lawal, was used to playing sport most days after school, and was feeling fit and healthy.
But Maria was devastated to discover that her muscle pain was anything but regular strain. Instead, in 2008 she received a life-changing cancer diagnosis after finding out that the pain was actually osteosarcoma - a form of bone cancer.
Maria’s life changed overnight from playing her sports to scheduling her life around surgery and chemotherapy sessions. After more than a decade, Maria says she has been saved by improving treatment - and is now determined to help more people like her survive.
