Doctors find a “strange spot” on Fobe’s buttock

After a long and painful journey, Fobe (31) finally became a mother. But then doctors found a “strange spot” on her buttock:
“I could only think about Oke”

Ypres
After a long and emotional fertility journey, Fobe Knockaert’s dream finally came true: becoming a mother. But then she discovered a strange lump on her hip — it turned out to be cancer. “The doctor asked if she could be honest. If there were metastases, they wouldn’t be able to treat me.”

Nieuwsblad, September 16th 2025, Thys Pattyn

Becoming a mother was the great dream of Fobe Knockaert (31) from Ypres. She consciously started a fertility journey on her own, but it was far from easy. With every failed attempt, she mourned the child she had already envisioned. After four tries, she became the mother of Oke. “My life changed forever. From that moment on, my daughter came first. But a few months later, my world turned upside down.”

“One warm summer evening, I noticed a strange lump on my hip. I asked a physiotherapist at the gym — where I had started exercising again after my pregnancy — to take a look. He suspected an internal bruise, but the lump didn’t go away. After a few weeks, I decided to see my GP. I feared he’d think, ‘She came in for that?’ But the doctor took it seriously and referred me to the hospital for an ultrasound. When that didn’t give clear results, an MRI scan followed.”

“While waiting for the results, I kept thinking, ‘I’ll have to cancel that appointment — the lump will disappear on its own.’ I wasn’t worried and mostly felt it was a waste of time to lie under a busy scanner for something so small. Until the GP called me with the results. ‘I don’t have good news,’ he said. His words hit me like a hammer blow.”

Becoming a mother was the great dream of Fobe Knockaert (31) from Ypres. She consciously started a fertility journey on her own, but it was far from easy. With every failed attempt, she mourned the child she had already envisioned. After four tries, she became the mother of Oke. “My life changed forever. From that moment on, my daughter came first. But a few months later, my world turned upside down.”

“One warm summer evening, I noticed a strange lump on my hip. I asked a physiotherapist at the gym — where I had started exercising again after my pregnancy — to take a look. He suspected an internal bruise, but the lump didn’t go away. After a few weeks, I decided to see my GP. I feared he’d think, ‘She came in for that?’ But the doctor took it seriously and referred me to the hospital for an ultrasound. When that didn’t give clear results, an MRI scan followed.”

“While waiting for the results, I kept thinking, ‘I’ll have to cancel that appointment — the lump will disappear on its own.’ I wasn’t worried and mostly felt it was a waste of time to lie under a busy scanner for something so small. Until the GP called me with the results. ‘I don’t have good news,’ he said. His words hit me like a hammer blow.”

© Thijs Pattyn

Nerve-wracking weeks

A liposarcoma is a malignant tumor in the fatty tissue. “Also called a soft tissue tumor — a rare form of cancer,” says Fobe. “The following week was a real rollercoaster: Monday a PET scan in Kortrijk, Tuesday an appointment with the oncologist in Ypres, Wednesday a visit to a specialist at Ghent University Hospital, Thursday a biopsy under anesthesia. After nerve-racking weeks of waiting, the confirmation came: the biopsy showed a malignant tumor in my buttock. The good news: it hadn’t spread.”

“I had to go to a university hospital, where I was treated by a specialized team. Chemotherapy usually doesn’t work for these types of tumors. I had to undergo 25 radiation sessions, hoping to shrink the tumor. An MRI showed that the radiotherapy had worked: the tumor had shrunk. After that, surgery followed. After five days in the hospital, I was allowed to go home. The hardest part was being away from my daughter. Fortunately, I can rely on my parents. Oke and I stayed with them for a while. It’s not easy — not everyone is lucky enough to have such a strong support network. The advocacy group Cum Cura also supported me greatly.”

“Gewoon pech”

“Unfortunately, complications arose. Fobe underwent a second surgery, and a few months later a third and fourth. “A tough journey, especially for a single mother. For now, things look fairly good after the first follow-up scan. I have to go for a check-up every six months. It’s a slow-growing tumor. Is there a hereditary cause? No, just bad luck. Now I have great admiration for people living with chronic illness.”

“It has been hard. Because of my illness, I often felt like I was failing as a mother. I wasn’t always there for my little daughter. Sometimes the pain made me lose patience, like when I was trying to rock her to sleep while she cried. Oke gives me the strength to carry on.”

A hobby, which led to a new side business and her own online shop, also gave Fobe a boost. “After an intense period, I found calm, relaxation, and myself again through embroidery. What started as therapy grew into something beautiful,” she says. “Embroidery gives me the chance to thank the people who supported me during that tough time in a personal and unique way. A very enjoyable, creative outlet full of love and meaning.”

Fobe, who already dreams of having her own embroidery studio, makes personalized clothing, stuffed animals, and bath ponchos for children. “Perfect for anyone looking for a warm gift, made with love to give with love.”

You can find Fobe’s online shop at borduurvolliefde.be.