A 15-YEAR-OLD girl was stunned after being told she had a tumour the size of a rugby ball despite being a fit and healthy footballer.
Isobel Hemmings and her family, from Essex, were shocked when she received news that there was a tumour the size of a rugby ball on her ovary.
The footballer had noticed a lump in her stomach area in May and doctors soon discovered she had germ cell cancer.
Germ cell tumours usually form on reproductive cells, primarily in the ovaries or testicles.
However, these mutations can spread to other parts of the body such as abdomen, brand and chest.
After undergoing a successful operation to remove the tumour, the teen was devastated to learn she would have to undertake chemotherapy over Christmas.
Further tests revealed the cancer had spread to Isobel’s lungs.
But the teen, from the Benfleet area, is not letting her diagnosis stop her from doing what she loves.
The 15-year-old has begun a keepie-ups challenge to thank cancer support charity Macmillan for helping her throughout the “very tiring” and “very long process”.
Her final chemotherapy treatment will begin on Boxing Day, but Isobel is still continuing her keepie-ups challenge.
She told Essex Live: “My diagnosis just shows that no matter how healthy you are, you could be the fittest person in the world, but something can still impact your life.
“So definitely I want to raise awareness, and I think just hope and positivity, because obviously in times like this, it is tough, but you’ve got to try and stay strong.
“Doing all the things that I love like doing the keepie-ups, it can put your mind off it and it shows you’re staying strong for everyone and yourself.”
So far, Isobel has completed 7,000 keepie-ups and raised an impressive £1,900 for Macmillan.
“I think it affected me more than what I thought it would, I underestimated it a bit,” Isobel continued.
“It can be harder sometimes because obviously the chemo makes you very tired and it makes my legs get very heavy,” she added.
Deborah Hemmings, Isobel’s mother, said: “It’s hard because at the moment she looks okay, so it’s hard to come to terms with the fact that she’s ill because she looks fine.
“Obviously when she has really bad days and she looks tired and she looks very unwell, it’s hard to take in.
“But you’ve just got a crack on with everyday life and get on.”
Thundersley Rovers Football Club in Benfleet, the local team that Isobel use to referee for have been extremely supportive, according to Deborah.
