Pennsylvania nail technician diagnosed with stage IV Ewing sarcoma after months of hip-pain misdiagnosis

Brooke Bailey, a 23-year-old nail technician from Pennsylvania, began experiencing an aching, throbbing pain in her left hip after starting work in March. At first she dismissed it, assuming it was a job-related strain. Doctors told her the discomfort likely came from her height and from sitting in a salon chair all day. Bailey said she did what she could to manage the pain and kept up with recommended physical therapy, but the pain often intensified and spread down her leg to her ankle.

In October 2025, an MRI finally revealed two tumors—one in her femur and another in the groin—leading to a diagnosis of stage IV Ewing sarcoma, a rare cancer that arises in bone or the surrounding soft tissue. 'I never thought in my mind that it was cancer, so it was scary, but I felt relieved too, because I knew there was something wrong with me,' Bailey said. 'What’s next? I’m ready to start the healing process because I want my life back.'

Bailey is undergoing six rounds of chemotherapy and will be reassessed in January to determine whether surgery will be added to her treatment plan. The cancer likely spread from her femur to her groin area, a sign that it has established a broader presence in her body while remaining in the local region.

Her mother, Marissa Koons, has set up a GoFundMe page to help cover reproductive egg retrieval, travel and lodging during chemotherapy, and other expenses related to Bailey’s treatment. The fundraiser has exceeded its initial goal, with donations surpassing $7,000 to date. Koons said the funds have helped cover the egg retrieval so Bailey can preserve the option of having children in the future, as chemotherapy can damage fertility. 'The fundraiser exceeded the goal, and we’re at over $7,000 now, which has helped us to pay for the egg retrieval without me going into my credit card debt,' Koons said. 'I had to stay at a hotel for this round of chemo, the travel, prescriptions. It really did help, but most of it went to the egg retrieval because that needed to be taken care of.'

Bailey is encouraging other young people to seek a second opinion if they feel dismissed by doctors. 'I’ve learned that you really are your biggest advocate for yourself, and if you don’t like what one person says, go see somebody else,' Bailey said. 'I wish that’s what I had done. You are your own person, and you need to take care of yourself. You really need to be forceful when it comes to advocating for yourself with doctors, which is sad. But if you know there’s something wrong with you, then you know. The biggest takeaway is to listen to your body.'

Experts note that Ewing sarcoma affects about 200 to 250 children and adolescents in the United States each year. While the overall five-year survival rate is about 81%, it falls to 41% when the cancer has spread to distant organs at stage four. The cancer often presents with bone pain, fractures, swelling or tenderness near the affected areas, and some patients may feel a lump in an arm, leg, chest or pelvis, according to the Mayo Clinic. Bailey’s case illustrates the challenges of diagnosing rare cancers in young adults and the importance of prompt imaging when symptoms persist.

Bailey’s family hopes that sharing her story will raise awareness about rare cancers and reinforce the message that patients should advocate for themselves and seek second opinions when concerns persist. The goal is to help others avoid delays in diagnosis and to support families navigating complex treatment decisions.