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Mount Vernon mayor shares survival story after rare cancer led to life-threatening blood clot

The mayor says she suffered a blockage from a blood clot in her lungs in May 2024.

News 12 Staff

Aug 17, 2026, 12:06 PM

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Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard is sharing her story after surviving a life-threatening medical emergency caused by a rare form of cancer.

The mayor says she suffered a blockage from a blood clot in her lungs in May 2024.

According to Patterson-Howard, the clot was caused by sarcoma, a rare type of cancer.

She said doctors told her that if she had gone to sleep that night without seeking treatment, she would have died.

The mayor also said doctors informed her that about 95% of people who experience a large clot like hers do not survive.

Now in recovery, Patterson-Howard is speaking publicly about her experience in an effort to raise awareness about the signs and risks associated with serious blood clots and rare cancers.

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