Rare cancer leaves woman’s body covered in painful blisters that tear her skin at the slightest touch
Cathy Garza, 51, from Michigan, battled with painful symptoms for three years before doctors discovered she was suffering T-Cell lymphoma, a type of blood cancer
A CANCER patient claims she was left looking like a burns victim, after her body was ravaged by horrific blisters triggered by a rare form of the disease.
Cathy Garza, 51, from Detroit in Michigan, was plagued by the agonising symptoms for three years before doctors discovered she was suffering T-Cell lymphoma, a rare blood cancer.
The 51-year-old first noticed a small red ring on her cheek that began to rise three years ago.
Over time blisters developed in the middle of the unusual swirl-shaped rash that would go on to consume nearly all of her body.
Doctors were initially baffled by her worsening condition that has left her in agonising pain as well as seeing her hair fall out and her teeth break off.
She claims her skin was been so badly affected that it left her looking like a "burns victim" and at her worst earlier this year it covered 95 per cent of her body.
Over the three years spent searching for answers, Cathy claims to have seen 100 doctors, undergone over 70 biopsies, 40 skin scrapings and hundreds of blood tests.
Until four months ago, when doctors diagnosed her with potentially having a rare form of blood cancer called T-Cell lymphoma that only affect 5 per cent of the US population.
Now she's undergoing chemotherapy and other cancer killing treatment to try to save her life.
Cathy, who formerly ran an animal rescue centre, said: "At my worst 95 per cent of my body was covered in the painful rash and blisters, I looked like a burns victim.
It was like I'd been scolded by a hot pan and have burning blisters all over my body. They are so delicate that sometimes just touching them will cause the skin to rip off and seep
Cathy Garza
"It was like I'd been scolded by a hot pan and have burning blisters all over my body.
"They are so delicate that sometimes just touching them will cause the skin to rip off and seep.
"There have been days where I'd get off my bed and see nothing but blood and skin falling off me, it was terrifying.
"I have severe pain throughout my whole body, it's excruciating."
Cathy experienced her first symptoms in 2013, when a half-crescent shaped mark appeared on her skin, which she initially believed to be ringworm – caused from running an animal shelter.
Doctors gave her steroid creams hoping to treat her rash but they worsened, quickly spreading further across her body.
Cathy said: "The red circle started to rise in the middle and swirled around twice, like the centre of a lollipop.
Related Stories
"Later it took on a different form, appearing as blisters all over my torso, rapidly spreading.
"The rashes and blisters that appeared were devouring my entire body all the way down to my legs."
After years trying to discover the origin of her symptoms, Cathy was taken to a specialist hospital where countless doctors inspected her and conducted more tests.
Cathy added: "By summer this year, it was all over my head, torso, arms, legs, hands and feet.
"Also, my hair was starting to fall out and my teeth started to break off but doctors still had no idea what was wrong.
"I was stripped naked in front of specialists from heads of every medical department, all trying to find out what was wrong with me.
"I've easily seen over 75 doctors easily, dealt with 20 one-to-one specialists, had more than ten CAT scans and five full body MRIs.
"I've lost track of amount of biopsies but they are well over 70, more than 40 skin scrapings and hundreds and hundreds of blood tests, it's amazing that I have any blood left.
"I think I've had ever test under the sun and still there are a lot of unanswered questions."
In August, she was diagnosed with a rare form of T-cell lymphoma and now Cathy is undergoing cancer treatment in the hopes it will keep her alive.
WHAT IS LYMPHOMA?
Lymphoma is the most common blood cancer and occurs when the cells of the immune system grow and multiply uncontrollably, according to the Lymphoma Research Foundation.
T-cell Lymphoma can develop in lymphoid tissues such as the lymph nodes and spleen, as well as outside lymphoid tissues including the skin, liver, nasal cavity and others.
Common symptoms can include: swelling of the lymph nodes, fever, unexplained weight loss, sweating, chills, lethargy and itching.
Izumi Nakano, Associate Director of Patient Services at the LRF, said: "With more than 70 subtypes of lymphoma, it is critically important newly diagnosed patients and their caregivers receive the most accurate and up-to-date information.
"We work diligently with our distinguished Scientific Advisory Board to ensure the Foundation provides the lymphoma community with helpful educational resources and in-person programs.
"As well as individualised support through our Helpline."
Cathy said: "There have been a lot of times where I thought I was dying but I've just had to try to keep as positive as I can and keep looking for answers.
"Now I'm on chemotherapy, proton therapy, UV light therapy and steroid creams."
Cathy is fundraising to help her to cover her treatment costs, after emptying all the savings she and husband Albert, 67, had.
The couple have spent over $25,000 (£19,650) so far and doctors predict she could be facing heftier medical bills as her treatment continues.
Cathy said: "Doctors are still trying to solve the puzzle and are doing everything they can, but it's very expensive, especially after the years we've spent trying to find answers.
"There have been a lot of times where I feared this was something untreatable but I've just had to try to keep as positive as I can and keep looking for answers."
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368