Doctor 'shocked' as paralysed woman walks again

Sylivia Cameron says her husband Alistair, as well as her friends and family, helped her persevere with her physiotherapy

A woman who was left paralysed by a rare complication from cancer has stunned doctors by learning to walk again.

Sylvia Cameron, 79, who was born in Stoke-on-Trent and now lives in Evesham, was diagnosed with paraplegic lymphoma, which had left her bed-bound.

Specialists at Worcestershire Royal Hospital discovered tumours were compressing her spinal nerve, causing paralysis in her legs and lower body.

Mrs Cameron said at one point she had feared she might never walk again.

"It is incredibly rare to walk again once you're paraplegic," said consultant haematologist Dr Salim Shafeek.

"I have never seen it before in my career.

"She was completely unable to move for herself and we thought she would never walk again, so to now be standing up and walking around is really incredible."

Mrs Cameron says she feels 'back to my old self' following her treatment

Mrs Cameron said she had been supported during her treatment and physiotherapy by her husband Alistair and her family and friends, who had all been "wonderful".

After going to A&E when she "felt something snap" in her back in October 2022, she spent nine weeks in hospital, completely unable to stand or move.

She received medication for the pain as well as a course of chemotherapy to treat the lymphoma that caused her paralysis.

She was later discharged to a care home, before eventually being able to return home in March 2023.

Mrs Cameron subsequently embarked on a course of physiotherapy, and after 18 months finally began to walk again.

"I must admit, with the physio, I'd come out feeling very tired," she said.

"We carried on, and everybody was saying, 'You must push on with it' – so I did."

Mrs Cameron can now walk with a frame and is able to walk about 200m (656 ft) outdoors.

"I'm not doing no marathons or anything," she said, but added she was feeling "much, much stronger" again.

"I feel like I'm back to my old self," she said.

It had been a "huge shock" to see her stand up and walk again, Dr Shafeek said.

"This is an inspirational story for many cancer spinal cord patients," he added.

"She had determination."

He praised the nurses and physiotherapists who had supported Mrs Cameron, and her perseverance with her physio treatment.