Mum’s race against time after ‘pregnancy bump’ turns out to be 3kg cancerous tumour

A mum thought she was pregnant but she soon discovered it was something far different.

Sam Harbuz with husband Bol and their kids Felix, 11 and Milo, 9. Picture: Supplied

A mum thought she’d simply found a small lump on her tummy – but that little bump soon swelled to the size of a pregnancy belly, leaving her family devastated when they learned it was, in fact, a 3kg tumour.

Sam Harbuz, a much loved 39-year-old hairdresser on Magnetic Island, has been hit with a rare and aggressive cancer diagnosis that’s turned her family’s world upside down.

It all started with what doctors thought was a harmless lump on her stomach. But in no time, the mass grew to a shocking size.

Recalling the early signs, her husband Bol describes noticing “a little lump low on her tummy,” which soon ballooned within a month. “We thought, oh my god, she’s pregnant. That’s how big it grew,” he said.

The left image shows Sam's 3kg tumour protruding from her stomach, while the right photo reveals her appearance after its removal. Picture: Supplied

He said initially, doctors told them the mass was a tumour but they believed it was non-cancerous and surgically removable, offering the family some comfort.

Sam underwent surgery at Townsville University Hospital on July 25 to remove the mass.

But pathology results following the surgery delivered an unimaginable blow: not only was the tumour cancerous, but the cancer had metastasised and spread aggressively throughout Sam’s body.

Bol said they were told they had limited options other than chemotherapy and Sam’s estimated life expectancy ranged between three and 12 months.

“We’ve gone from being told the chance of having cancer was almost non-existent to having our world shattered in the span of a five-second sentence,” he recounts.

Sam Harbuz with her kids Felix, 11 and Milo, 9. Picture: Supplied

Despite the grim prognosis, Sam and Bol have refused to give up hope.

They reached out to top cancer experts, including the renowned Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, but they confirmed the diagnosis and the limited treatment options.

Determined to explore every possible avenue, the family has now set their sights on an experimental therapy program in Houston, Texas that has accepted Sam as a patient.

However, the cost is substantial, with an estimated $150k required for treatment.

“We’ll do whatever it takes,” Bol said. “We don’t own a home; we rent. We’ve got two young boys, aged 11 and 9, and we’ll sell whatever we need to, to give Sam a chance.”

The Harbuz family’s story has resonated deeply with their tight-knit Magnetic Island community, who have rallied around them with an outpouring of support.

Sam Harbuz with husband Bol and their kids Felix, 11 and Milo, 9. Picture: Supplied

The family’s story has deeply resonated with the tight-knit community on Magnetic Island, which has rallied to offer support.

A GoFundMe campaign has already raised over $16,000, and the local IGA will host a fundraising event this Sunday to help cover the cost of Sam’s treatment.

Bol paints a picture of Sam as a quiet, devoted hairdresser who takes joy in brightening others’ days.

Now, however, she faces severe side effects from chemotherapy, including extreme fatigue, nerve damage, and the loss of her hair.

“Sam describes it like being hit by a truck. She’s lost feeling in her hands and feet, and her hair’s all gone,” Bol shared.

Even in the face of these challenges, Sam’s determination shines through. As Bol says, “We’re not giving up. She’s determined. She has her weak moments, but once we get through those, her focus is back on staying positive.”

After being contacted by the Bulletin, Townsville Hospital and Health Service chief executive Kieran Keyes addressed Sam’s case, expressing sympathy and clarifying the referral process. “I’m incredibly sorry to hear about the devastating diagnosis faced by this patient and her family. I can confirm that there were two referrals for care, and both were allocated an urgent categorisation of no less than 30 days,” Keyes stated.

“I have arranged for one of our clinicians to contact the patient as a matter of priority.”

You can help here: https://gofund.me/508729d5

Originally published as Mum’s race against time after ‘pregnancy bump’ turns out to be 3kg cancerous tumour