Two identical twins both suffer from the same cancer symptoms — although only one of them actually has the disease.
Sophie Walker from Edinburgh was diagnosed with Wilms’ tumour, a type of kidney cancer, in 2017 at the age of 10.
In the six years since, Sophie has gone into remission three times but unfortunately relapsed in December.
During that time, the 16-year-old’s twin sister, Megan, experienced many of the same symptoms, including abdominal and back pain, paleness and weight loss.
Megan underwent a head-to-toe MRI scan, which came back perfectly clear. Her doctors have dubbed the phenomenon a “twin thing.”
Sophie Walker (left, pictured with her twin sister Megan), then 10 years old, was diagnosed with Wilms’ tumor – a type of kidney cancer – in 2017
During Sophie’s cancer battle, Megan (right) experienced many of the same symptoms – including abdominal and back pain, paleness and weight loss
Megan (right) even underwent a head-to-toe MRI scan – which came back perfectly clear – with doctors calling the phenomenon a “twin thing”.
Rebecca Walker, the girls’ mother, said: “When Sophie was first diagnosed, Megan had all the symptoms.
“People keep commenting on how ill she looks — she’s even paler than her sister.”
The mother of 10 added: “Every test under the sun has been done on her and there is absolutely nothing wrong with her. It’s so bizarre.”
Wilms’ tumor is a type of kidney cancer in children that most commonly affects children under the age of five.
It was named after Dr. Max Wilms, who first discovered it, and around 90 children are diagnosed in the UK each year. There are 500 to 600 cases annually in the United States.
Sophie was diagnosed on October 25, 2017 after experiencing “stomach bug-like cramps.” She had four weeks of chemotherapy and surgery to remove the tumor.
After another 27 weeks of chemotherapy, Sophie went into remission in April 2018.
But in January 2020, a routine MRI showed “something concerning” on her spine.
A doctor reportedly told Ms Walker that Sophie’s initial biopsy had seeded her spine – meaning the needle inserted into Sophie’s original tumor had removed and spread cancerous cells.
The Covid pandemic delayed further treatment – surgery and three weeks of radiation therapy – but Sophie went into remission again in January 2021.
She then relapsed in December of the same year and underwent chemotherapy until May 2022.
In November, Sophie went into remission for the third time, but after an exam just a month later, doctors said her results were “not good”.
Sophie was diagnosed with Wilms’ tumor on October 25, 2017 after experiencing “stomach bug-like cramps.” She had four weeks of chemotherapy and surgery to remove the tumor
After another 27 weeks of chemotherapy, Sophie went into remission in April 2018, but in January 2020, a routine MRI showed “something concerning” on her spine
The Covid pandemic delayed further treatment – surgery and three weeks of radiation therapy – but Sophie went into remission again in January 2021
Ms Walker said: “We went to have Sophie checked one day and the doctor told us she couldn’t feel anything there.
“But the next day we got a call again. All the counselor could say was that the results were ‘not good’ – and she began to cry.
“Sophie saw the look on her face and just broke down, for the first time in six years.”
Sophie’s father, Jamie, 44, left the room with Sophie to comfort her while Mrs Walker stayed with the counselor to ask more questions.
She said, “I’ve been told to take her and make memories as long as she’s well enough.”
Since the news, Sophie’s consultant has said she can have the tumor on her spine operated on by a team of consultants, oncologists, pediatric surgeons and plastic surgeons.
Despite this “little bit of hope,” Sophie still struggles “deeply” with health anxiety and depression, and Megan feels “exactly the same way.”
Mrs Walker said: “Megan just can’t put up with it when Sophie isn’t around. We have a big family and everyone takes care of each other, but Megan had a lot of problems.”
Sophie and Megan have eight siblings – James, 20, Emily, 19, Ruthie, 17, Daniel, 13, Olivia, 11, Emma, 9, Nathan, 8, and eight-month-old Evan.
Since the news, Sophie’s consultant has said she can have the tumor on her spine operated on by a team of consultants, oncologists, pediatric surgeons and plastic surgeons
A doctor told Ms Walker that Sophie’s initial biopsy had seeded her spine – meaning the needle inserted into Sophie’s original tumor had removed and spread cancerous cells
In November, Sophie went into remission for the third time, but after an exam just a month later, doctors said her results were “not good”.
“While the older ones look after the younger ones around the house, Megan stays by Sophie’s side in the hospital, sometimes until 3am,” Ms Walker added.
“She won’t leave her until she says, ‘I’m tired, I want to go to sleep.’
“In all of Covid she was not allowed to see Sophie as Jamie and I were her two named visitors. She couldn’t handle it.
“Once those restrictions were lifted slightly, Megan wanted to see Sophie again.”
When Sophie relapsed in January, Megan also volunteered for a head-to-toe MRI scan.
‘Nothing turned up, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with her,’ explained Mrs Walker.
“Advisors tell me it’s just a ‘twin thing’ – which I find totally bizarre. I’ve never heard of identical twins getting sick at the same time when one isn’t even sick.”
Experts in the past, when discussing similar stories, have dismissed the theory that twins can feel each other’s physical pain.
But they have hinted that their strong empathy for each other might explain some of the physical reaction.
The Walker family is currently running a GoFundMe to raise funds for proton therapy in New York – after having surgery in Scotland on a date to be confirmed.
GoFundMe has raised £21,526 so far.
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