Thriving Through a Rare Cancer Diagnosis

by Kathryn White

with guest Ngozi Onwuchekwa 

Ngozi Onwuchekwa is the recent survivor of a rare and deadly disease, Rhabdomyosarcoma, and who within the year of remission, also won the Mrs Exceptional Lady Universe crown at the 2023 Mrs Universe pageant in Miami, beating numerous adversities. The triumph has spurred Ngozi to use her new found self confidence and extremely challenging experiences to help others understand early signs of the rare disease, how to cope whilst battling a deadly cancer, and how to stand up for yourself within the healthcare system when you have lost your ability to physically do so.

Why a Beauty Pageant

Ngozi applied and was accepted to represent the UK in the Mrs Universe competition and through her inspiring story and her mission to bring awareness to the rare disease, Ngozi was crowned Mrs Exceptional Lady Universe 2023 - a triumph.

Despite some beauty pageants being seen as antiquated, the Miss Universe and Mrs Universe competitions have taken recent leaps to dismantle beauty and societal norms, now accepting transgender contestants, married people, mothers, and divorcees. Ngozi saw this as a platform that not only aligned with her inclusive values, but provided a huge stage for her to use her new transformative power and speak to other suffering people. She was able to shine as an example of resilience and strength.

What is Rhabdomyosarcoma

Rhabdomyosarcoma develops in the skeletal or voluntary muscles of the body – the muscles we can control ourselves. There are an average of only 112 cases of rhabdomyosarcoma diagnosed every year in England. It makes up 2.84% of all soft tissue sarcomas, and about 0.04% of all cancers.

Rhabdomyosarcoma belongs within the Sarcoma cancer group - every day, 15 people are diagnosed with sarcoma in the UK. That’s about 5,300 people a year. Sarcoma is a type of cancer that develops in the bone and soft tissue. It is difficult to diagnose and one of the hardest to treat. 

How Ngozi Chooses to Thrive

Ngoni is now 45 years old and is an advocate and fundraising partner of Sarcoma UK, Ngozi is best known for her informative voice drawing from her own experience of the disease. She is extremely passionate about spreading awareness and to help other patients know about not only the physicalities of the illness, but also the effect a debilitating and deadly diagnosis can have on your mental health - how to navigate the support system you have available to you and how to ultimately stay strong when you are at your weakest.

Ngozi’s uses journaling and writing as a form of mental wellbeing, alongside taking great care in her diet and fitness. She ran the Brighton Marathon on World Health Day, 7 April 2024, raising donations for Sarcoma UK.

There is a lot to navigate when you are living with cancer. Learning how to move beyond just surviving and into thriving is possible, as you can. Cancer does not get to control your life, you do. 

Kathryn White is a Certified Holistic Cancer Coach who supports women to turn their cancer diagnosis into a thriving story one woman at a time.