An inspiring cancer patient has now become a one-legged pin-up girl after having her limb amputated at the hip when she was diagnosed with a one-in-10-million form of cancer at just 30 years old.
Cairn Atkinson, now 35, from Los Angeles, California, found out that she was suffering from a rare form of cancer called epithelioid sarcoma in July 2018 – which develops in the soft tissue, usually under the skin of a limb.
In December 2018, Cairn underwent surgery to have her leg removed – which put her into remission for nearly four years. But unfortunately, in early 2022 – she started to notice some new ‘pain and discomfort,’ and was told by her doctors that her cancer had returned – and it was worse than ever.
This time, medical professionals found three tumors in her body – including one that has since ‘invaded her colon’ – instead of one like the previous time. But the devastating news hasn’t slowed her down.
A cancer patient has now become a one-legged pin-up girl after having her limb amputated at the hip when she was diagnosed with a one-in-10-million form of cancer at just 30 years old
Cairn Atkinson, now 35, from Los Angeles, California, found out that she was suffering from a rare form of cancer called epithelioid sarcoma in July 2018
In December 2018, Cairn underwent surgery to have her leg removed – which put her into remission for nearly four years. But it unfortunately came back in early 2022
But the devastating news hasn’t slowed her down. She has continued to follow her dreams despite her battle with cancer, and she has now launched a major career as a pin-up model
She hopes to inspire other cancer patients or amputees to see that they too can achieve their goals through her modeling work
Cairn – who is preparing to start chemotherapy and radiation – has continued to follow her dreams despite her ongoing battle with cancer, while also dedicating much of her free time to helping others.
‘This news was devastating to me and my family, but I did not let it stop me,’ she said of her diagnosis. ‘I will continue to power though and do the things I love and persevere towards my goals and desires all the while maintaining a positive attitude’
She has now launched a major career as a pin-up model, with the hopes of inspiring other cancer patients or amputees to see that they too can achieve their goals.
‘All the tumors have been getting bigger in centimeters, and one of the tumors has invaded the colon and is breaking through causing a lot of pain and discomfort, and bleeding,’ she recently told Media Drum World.
‘The systemic medicine I was on was working, but now is not as effective. My oncologist said the next process is chemo and radiation, which was not an option years ago so there is more hope this time that it will destroy and keep this aggressive cancer away.
‘This news was devastating to me and my family, but I did not let it stop me. I will continue to power though and do the things I love and persevere towards my goals and desires all the while maintaining a positive attitude.’
Cairn has posed for numerous magazines – four of which featured her on the cover – and she said that becoming the first amputee to be featured in most of the publications was a huge honor to her.
She also started competing in pin-up pageants back in October 2021, and has since participated in 14 different competitions – three of which she has won and four of which she came in second place.
Cairn has posed for numerous magazines – four of which featured her on the cover – and she said becoming the first amputee to be featured in most of the publications was a huge honor
She also started competing in pin-up pageants back in October 2021, and has since participated in 14 different competitions – three of which she has won
Cairn hopes that her modeling work can encourage others with disabilities or missing limbs to embrace their differences and feel less alone
Cairn was also enlisted by the creator of the Rockabilly Pageant, Tom Ingram, to start a special Facebook group for people with health issues that want to get into the world of pageantry
Cairn hopes that her modeling work can encourage others with disabilities or missing limbs to embrace their differences and feel less alone.
She eventually hopes to turn the group, called Rockabilities, into a non-profit organization where she can raise money for those who are suffering
‘I recently dove into the pin-up culture scene where I compete in pin-up pageants and have the honor of being on different stages in order to raise awareness for hip amputees, and to encourage others that there is always a positive life to live even during or after grim circumstances,’ she explained.
In addition to her impressive modeling career, Cairn was also enlisted by the creator of the Rockabilly Pageant, Tom Ingram, to start a special Facebook group for people with health issues that want to get into the world of pageantry.
She eventually hopes to turn the group, called Rockabilities, into a non-profit organization where she can raise money for those who are suffering. She also wants to plan trips for her and her other pin-up gal pals to visit sick people in hospitals, where they will sing, talk to the patients, and spread joy and positivity.
Cairn even started her own YouTube channel, where she discusses her diagnosis, as well as the ups and downs of living without one of her limbs in an attempt to raise awareness about some of the struggles that amputees can face due to the lack of accessibility around the country.
Cairn started her own YouTube channel, where she discusses the struggles that come with being an amputee – in an attempt to raise awareness about the lack of accessibility
Cairn is now gearing up to start radiation and chemotherapy, which will be continuous for six months. She is seen showing off her radiation port
She recently launched a GoFundMe page to try to raise money to help cover the costs of her treatment, where she has already gotten more than $5,000 in donations
‘After my amputation, I discovered that many places in Los Angeles are not accessible for all bodies and abilities,’ she said.
‘My new passion in life after the amputation was to create a YouTube Channel guiding other hip amputees before, during and after a hip amputation.
‘My channel also includes honest reviews of different locations and their accessibility, in hopes to inform and make changes and accommodations for all.’
According to Media Drum World, the number of cases of an upper extremity epithelioid sarcoma like Cairn’s is 0.1 per million per year in the United States.
Cairn is now gearing up to start radiation and chemotherapy, which will be continuous for six months. She recently launched a GoFundMe page to try to raise money to help cover the costs of her treatment, where she has already gotten more than $5,000 in donations.
‘I am very upset and concerned because the type of cancer I have is very rare and hard to treat, and chemotherapy is my only hope,’ she continued.
‘I have a GoFundMe to help me and my husband through this challenging time. The money we receive will go towards what insurance won’t cover such as procedures and medicine, travel expenses, caregivers, food, house cleaning services, sanitizing items, radiation cream, head scarves to keep me warm, and bills.
‘I had to quit my most recent job and my husband Joseph will need to take time off to help support and be a part of this journey with me.’
Cairn dreams of one day becoming an actress, and while the cancer may force her to put things on hold for a few months, she is still determined to achieve her goals one day
‘Although these aspirations have unfortunately had to take a back seat because of the cancer returning, I have not let this dim my light,’ she insisted
‘I remain enthusiastic and positive and once I am healthy enough after treatment, I plan to go skydiving to celebrate,’ the pin-up model added
She also said the ongoing battle has strengthened her relationship to her husband Joseph, who suffers from his own health problems due to an autoimmune disease
Cairn dreams of one day becoming an actress, and while the cancer may force her to put things on hold for a few months, she is still determined to achieve her goals one day.
She revealed: ‘I am trying to make it to the silver screen, become a professional model, and an aerial straps performer.
‘Although these aspirations have unfortunately had to take a back seat because of the cancer returning, I have not let this dim my light.
‘I remain enthusiastic and positive and once I am healthy enough after treatment, I plan to go skydiving to celebrate.’
She also said the ongoing battle has strengthened her relationship to her husband Joseph, who suffers from his own health problems. He has an autoimmune disease that attacks his kidneys, causing him to have high blood pressure and resulting in him going on dialysis.
‘Our medical issues have not created anything but a deeper love between us, we will be celebrating our fifth year of marriage at the end of October,’ she concluded.
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