5kg tumour twice the size of son found in pregnancy

A young mother has credited her miracle baby with saving her life, after pregnancy scans uncovered a 5kg ovarian tumour.

Emily Wiles with baby Eli, eight weeks. Picture: Josh Woning

As baby Eli grew in his mother’s womb he lay alongside a massive 5kg cancerous tumour that was more than twice his size.

But while the discovery at 33 weeks was shocking for both parents and medics, his mother Emily Wiles credits her miracle boy with giving her the chance of life.

“Had I not been pregnant, I would have associated the symptoms with periods, cramping, funny bowel movements and I find that to be really scary,” said Ms Wiles, 28.

At 2.3kgs Eli was delivered seven weeks early at the same time doctors removed the tumour which was small-cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type (SCCOHT) — one of the most dangerous forms of ovarian cancer.

Mater Hospital Brisbane’s gynaecological oncology team worked alongside obstetricians at Mater Mothers’ Hospital to safely deliver baby Eli by C-section and then delicately remove Ms Wiles's tumour during a three-hour procedure.

Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynaecological cancer, with a five-year survival rate of 49 per cent.

Mater Hospital Brisbane gynaecological oncologist Rhett Morton said SCCOHT was a very rare subtype of ovarian cancer and is most likely to affect young women.

“Of every 10,000 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer, no more than one will be diagnosed with SCCOHT,” Dr Morton said.

Eli Wiles was delivered at 33 weeks

“Importantly, the symptoms of ovarian cancer are similar across all subtypes — they are often non-specific abdominal or pelvic symptoms that may only be noticed when tumour growth has become advanced and can be frequently attributed to other conditions.

“A key message is that persistent or progressive symptoms, even if vague or non-specific, should prompt people to present for further assessment, as Emily and her husband, Luke, did,” Dr Morton said.

Ms Wiles started to experience cramping at 30 weeks gestation. The pain escalated quickly, and within two weeks the Greenslopes mother presented to an emergency department.

She was transferred to Mater Hospital Brisbane where an ultrasound revealed a growth on her ovaries.

Ms Wiles’s husband Luke said the reality was confronting.

“We were shocked there was a tumour growing alongside baby this whole time,” he said.

“Thankfully, we knew Eli was healthy and safe, and everyone was confident he would do just fine despite being seven weeks early,” he said.

Mater Cancer Care Centre senior medical oncologist Catherine Shannon said doctors planned to “throw the book” at the cancer with chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant.

“The rarity of Emily’s situation makes accurate prognosis very difficult, as there are only a small number of reported cases,” Dr Shannon said.