A Surprising Diagnosis Inspires a Mission to Help Others

Sylvester patient Claudia Pereira uses her experience to raise awareness of sarcoma

It was only through chance, in the form of a course of birth control pills to treat hormonal acne, that Claudia Pereira, 38, discovered she had a rare form of cancer. 

Pereira had been hesitant to try the hormonal treatment. But after exploring other options, she decided to give it a chance. Soon after she began treatment, she began experiencing persistent bleeding.

At first, she was told that the bleeding could be a normal response to starting birth control and that her body might need time to adjust.

But months later, the bleeding had continued long enough to leave her anemic. She was also experiencing severe fatigue, back pain and difficulty urinating.

“It was weird. That’s when I knew things weren’t normal,” she says.

Pereira went to an urgent care clinic, where a pelvic exam and imaging revealed a significant mass. She then transferred to Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of UHealth – University of Miami Health System, where her sister works. She met with Sylvester gynecologic oncologist Navya Nair, M.D., M.P.H., to have the mass removed.

“Dr. Nair is amazing. She’s the one who saved me. She’s my hero,” says Pereira.

Initially believing it to be a benign fibroid, Dr. Nair removed the entire seven-centimeter mass.

But the pathology told a different story: It turned out to be a uterine leiomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer that develops in the smooth muscle of the uterus, making early diagnosis challenging.

“Even though it was pretty big, it was growing between the muscle and the fat, and I had no idea whatsoever. It was just very weird that I would have this rare type of cancer. It’s like it was sleeping, and then I took birth control, and it woke up,” Pereira says.

She says, “Had I not happened to take birth control, I may not have known I had it until it was already advanced. It was a blessing in disguise, to be honest.”

The diagnosis was unexpected. But because the tumor was discovered before it had spread, Dr. Nair was able to remove it completely. She recommended that Pereira have a hysterectomy to treat the cancer, though because the cancer had been caught at an early stage, Pereira did not require chemotherapy or radiation.

“Claudia’s case is a powerful reminder that patients know their bodies best. She recognized that something wasn’t right and persisted in seeking answers,” Dr. Nair says. “Her story underscores the importance of listening to your body and advocating for your health.”

Turning survival into action

Before her experience with cancer, Pereira had already enjoyed going to the gym. Now she has an even stronger focus on exercise and healthy eating. 

“I saw psychiatrists too, but mentally, emotionally and personally, running really helped my mental state. It was another kind of therapy for me,” she says. 

Pereira celebrated the one-month anniversary of her surgery by running the Dolphins Cancer Challenge 5K with her family. The race is one of the culminating events of the UM Believe in You program, a free 20-week program aimed at improving the fitness and overall health of cancer survivors.

“Believe in You was so helpful. It was nice to be around other people with cancer and cancer survivors,” she says. “I raised money for cancer awareness, which felt fantastic. Even if I beat cancer, I want to be part of the program to give other people hope and to help them stay strong.”

Now a research participant with the sarcoma team led by Sylvester medical oncologist Gina D’Amato, Ph.D., Pereira wants every aspect of her experience to help others with a sarcoma diagnosis.

“My tumor gets analyzed all the time from pathology to explore different ways to treat sarcoma,” she says.

As Pereira approaches the one-year anniversary of her cancer diagnosis during Sarcoma Awareness Month, she hopes her experience will inspire other women to pay attention when something seems “off.”

Because sarcomas are uncommon and can be difficult to recognize, Pereira hopes her story will encourage others to take persistent or unusual symptoms seriously. 

“Listen to your body, listen to your intuition, do your research, and advocate for yourself,” she says. 

And for those facing a sarcoma diagnosis, Pereira has a simple message: “Stay brave, stay strong, and stay hopeful.” 

Written by Jodie Nicotra. Reviewed by Navya Nair, M.D., M.P.H.

Tags: Dolphins Cancer Challenge 5K, Dr. Navya Nair, gynecologic oncologist, persistent bleeding and rare sarcoma, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, unusual gynecologic symptoms, uterine cancer, uterine leiomyosarcoma, uterine sarcoma