Pennsylvania woman misdiagnosed with tendinitis ends up with stage IV Ewing sarcoma
A 23-year-old nail technician's hip pain was initially attributed to sitting at work, delaying a cancer diagnosis until October 2025.
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. Doctors told her the pain was tendinitis, linked to long hours sitting in a salon chair, a diagnosis that is not uncommon for repetitive-motion injuries. As she described, 'The doctors had mentioned that it could be because of my job,' and she tried to figure out triggers while continuing to work.
Her doctors also noted her height—5 feet 9 inches—and suggested that posture and seating could contribute to the discomfort. Despite referrals to physical therapy, the pain worsened and left her unable to perform the prescribed exercises. It took multiple appointments over seven months before a physician ordered an MRI scan.
The October 2025 MRI revealed two tumors, one in her femur and another in the groin, and she was diagnosed with stage four Ewing sarcoma, a rare cancer that originates in bone or the surrounding soft tissue. 'I never thought in my mind that it was cancer, so it was scary, but I kind of felt relieved, too, because I was like, "I'm not crazy. There is something wrong and I knew it the whole time,"' Bailey said. Doctors immediately began chemotherapy, and she is now undergoing six rounds of treatment with surgery being considered in January depending on the response.
Ewing sarcoma affects about 200 to 250 children and adolescents in the United States each year. Precise mortality data for adults is less clear because the cancer remains rare, but experts estimate there are several dozen deaths annually. The overall five-year survival rate for Ewing sarcoma is about 81 percent, according to the American Cancer Society; when the disease has spread to distant organs (stage four), the five-year survival rate drops to about 41 percent.
Bailey's family has also focused on fertility preservation. Her mother, Marissa Koons, started a GoFundMe page to help cover reproductive egg retrieval, travel, and accommodation costs, as chemotherapy can damage fertility. The campaign has surpassed its initial goal, raising more than $7,000 and helping cover the egg retrieval without stressing finances. 'The insurance didn't cover that at all,' Koons said. 'We used that money for the egg retrieval because that needed to be taken care of.'
The family emphasizes the importance of getting a second medical opinion when doctors repeatedly dismiss concerns. '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. 'You are your [own] person, and you need to take care of yourself.' The takeaway, she added, is to listen to your body.