Michelle Hughes’ pain began even before the birth of her first child and never truly disappeared. For five years, doctors failed to detect the condition growing inside her. When she finally collapsed after childbirth, the diagnosis explained everything—and everything changed.
Michelle initially thought she was simply dealing with the usual discomforts of pregnancy when a sharp, constant pain appeared beneath her right rib. At 35 weeks pregnant, she mentioned the pain to her doctor, who ordered an ultrasound to rule out gallbladder issues, a common concern during pregnancy. The scan revealed a benign blood-filled cyst on her liver—harmless, doctors said—and advised her to focus on her pregnancy. They scheduled a follow-up scan for the next year.
Michelle gave birth to her daughter, Juliet, a week later, and life with a new baby brought immense joy after years of infertility and a stillbirth. But the discomfort under her ribs didn’t go away. The pain was sporadic, mild yet persistent. Despite this, follow-up scans showed no changes, and the cyst was still considered harmless. With a young child and a full schedule, Michelle pushed on.
Years later, as she pursued fertility treatments and gave birth to a second daughter, Adeline, the pain sometimes worsened, but the scans always showed stability. Even when the pain landed her in the ER, doctors reassured her that the cyst remained unchanged. Michelle, believing the medical assurances, continued her busy life as a mother and social worker.
In 2021, while pregnant with her third child, new complications arose. At 35 weeks, Michelle’s placenta ruptured, but she and her son, Hatton, survived. Just days after returning home, she collapsed in front of her children and family. At the hospital, doctors discovered alarming signs: her heart rate was dangerously high, and scans revealed her lungs were filled with tumors and her liver had 15 cysts. This was a far cry from the benign cyst previously detected. Doctors were baffled by how rapidly her condition had deteriorated.
Within weeks, Michelle was diagnosed with Stage 4 epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE), a rare and incurable cancer that had been growing silently for years. She was devastated. Despite a hopeful offer of a liver transplant, further scans revealed the cancer had already spread too far to qualify for the procedure. The prognosis was grim, with a life expectancy of only months.
Refusing to succumb to despair, Michelle and her husband Ty sought out a specialist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto. This doctor recognized that Michelle had likely been living with EHE for five years, despite the lack of symptoms. He encouraged her to focus on living, not dying. His words shifted Michelle’s mindset from fear to action. She decided to embrace life and make the most of the time she had.
After moving back in with her mother in Prince Edward Island, Michelle’s health deteriorated as new tumors appeared. But instead of succumbing to hopelessness, she found inspiration in a video of a woman with Stage 4 cancer living joyfully. Michelle began exercising, first walking and then running, gradually building up her strength and stamina. She ran 5Ks, even pushing a stroller with her children, and soon tackled 10Ks and a half-marathon. Her dream grew even bigger: to become a triathlete.
On the third anniversary of her diagnosis, Michelle completed a triathlon, consisting of a half-marathon, 104 kilometers of biking, and two kilometers of swimming. The event ended with a triumphant finish, surrounded by her children.
Michelle’s journey also led her to share her story on social media, where her honest, unfiltered approach resonated with a growing community of followers. With more than 400,000 followers, Michelle’s message was simple: chase joy, embrace the imperfections of life, and live fully, even in the face of death.
She stayed open with her children about her illness, explaining it in terms they could understand. Together, they marked the time she had left, not as a countdown, but as a celebration of life. Michelle didn’t focus on a traditional bucket list; instead, she created a “living list” of meaningful experiences. She wanted to see her son, Hatton, start kindergarten, and that was her biggest hope for the future.
Michelle’s story sheds light on a rare cancer that often goes undiagnosed for years. Her experience reminds us of the importance of trusting our bodies and advocating for ourselves, even when early tests show no cause for concern.
What is Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma (EHE)?
EHE is a rare cancer that forms in the endothelial cells of blood vessels. It can occur in various parts of the body, most commonly the liver, lungs, and bones, and is difficult to detect due to its silent progression. Symptoms, if present, can include pain, weight loss, fatigue, and difficulty breathing, depending on the tumor’s location. Due to its rarity, EHE is often misdiagnosed or missed entirely. Michelle’s experience highlights how crucial it is to listen to persistent symptoms and seek further investigation.