A 'beautiful and inspiring' young woman has passed away from a rare form of cancer which she initially believed to simply be an 'insect' bite on her shoulder. Jenna Patel had been living her life to the full as she studied to become a primary school teacher when she received her devastating diagnosis, the Manchester Evening News reports.
She sadly died four months after her 21st birthday from an aggressive form of cancer called Ewing’s sarcoma which later fatally spread to her lungs. Jenna, who was from Belmont in Bolton, had spotted a lump on her shoulder in Spring 2021 after some gardening with her mum and brother.
She has visited the GP to be on the safe but assumed that the lump would just be an insect bite. Her doctor thought the lump was likely to be a cyst but sent Jenna for an ultrasound which came back inconclusive.
In the meantime, the then 20-year-old was put on an MRI waiting list and carried on with her work placement at Devonshire Primary School in Bolton. However, the lump on her shoulder continued to rapidly grow and she was sent to The Manchester Royal Infirmary in July 2021 for tests.
Jenna and her mum Priti had a sudden realisation while in the hospital corridor looking at posters about sarcomas that the student may have cancer. Jenna received her diagnosis at the same time her father Manish was only up the road being treated for lung cancer at another hospital.
Jenna was referred to The Christie hospital and put on an immediate course of chemotherapy which involved daily treatment and coming home in the evenings with chemotherapy drugs attached to her. She was told she was making good progress in the autumn time and that she should be fully recovered and ready to resume her life the following March.
The student was set to complete her final year of her studies the following October. Tragically once Jenna stopped receiving chemotherapy she was due a small break before starting radiotherapy, the tumour grew again very aggressively.
After more scans, plans for radiotherapy were scrapped and she underwent surgery to remove the tumours just weeks before Christmas. She was warned that she may lose her arm as a result but the surgery went well despite it being much bigger than anyone had expected.
As Jenna prepared to celebrate her 21st birthday last year, she began to experience breathing difficulties and was sent for further scans. She received the heart breaking news that her cancer had spread to her lungs.
A repeated pattern of chemotherapy which initially worked ended up becoming more ineffective as time went on and she was told in April last year that her cancer was now terminal. Despite her continuous bad news, the young student remained positive and kept 'smiling' throughout the final months of her life.
The 21-year-old planned her entire funeral, insisting that mourners were not allowed to dress in black or be sad and even asked for Stormzy to be played. Jenna also asked her friends and family to throw a party afterwards and remember the happiness they had shared with her. She sadly passed away at home on May 13 2022.
Jenna leaves behind her parents, Priti and Manish and her younger brother Liam who are now backing a Cancer Research UK campaign to help give hope to future generations on February 4 which is World Cancer Day. The family are urging people across the North West to give regularly to the charity to help fund long term research projects that could drive new breakthroughs.
18-year-old Liam has aspirations to study Biomedical Research at university after Jenna encouraged him to make a difference for people like her. Manish, aged 52, who works for Canon, continues to receive monthly cancer treatment.
The family are eager to keep their beloved daughter's memory alive and have been fundraising for cancer charities including raising over £6000 for Cancer Research UK by doing their night-time Shine Walk last year.
Priti, 49, said: “Throughout absolutely everything Jenna never ever stopped smiling and that’s what people always think of, her beautiful smile. When we were told she had cancer, I felt numb.
“Jenna remained so positive and determined that she inspired us all. Her death has left a huge hole in our lives and we miss her very deeply.
“But she wanted Liam to have an amazing career and go into medical research to make a difference. And we want to keep her memory alive to help others and raise as much money as we can to get rid of such a horrible disease.”
About 43,600 people were diagnosed with cancer in the North West last year, but progress in research has seen survival rates in the UK double in the last 40 years. Cancer Research UK research has resulted in more than 50 cancer drugs used across the UK and around the world from widely used chemotherapies to new-generation precision treatments.
Drugs linked to the charity are used to treat over 125,000 patients in the UK every year – that’s 3 out of every 4 patients who receive cancer drugs on the NHS. Cancer Research UK spokesperson for the North West, Jane Bullock, said: “This World Cancer Day, we want to say a heartfelt thank you to amazing supporters like Priti, Liam and Manish
"Their generosity of heart in fundraising and bravely sharing Jenna’s story is incredible. One in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime, but all of us can help beat it.
"So, we hope more people across the North West will donate monthly - if they can. We’re working towards a world where we can all live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.”
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