The new Netflix show Apple Cider Vinegar dramatizes the shocking true story of Belle Gibson (Kaitlyn Dever), an Australian single mum who scammed the world into believing she survived brain cancer thanks only to a plant-based diet and positive vibes. Apple Cider Vinegar posits that Belle was partially motivated to launch a lifestyle brand with such a brazen lie because she was so captivated by a rival influencer who really did have cancer and who was really championing controversial treatments like juicing and coffee enemas.

In Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar, Belle’s inspiration/competition is Milla Blake (Alycia Debnam-Carey). Milla is beautiful and talented 20-something Aussie journalist living her dream as an editor at a popular women’s magazine until she gets a horrific medical diagnosis. In Apple Cider Vinegar Episode 1 “Toxic,” oncologist Dr. Xiu (James Huang) tells Milla and her parents that the 22-year-old has “pleomorphic sarcoma undifferentiated.” It’s a rare deep tissue sarcoma that starts as lumps on the appendages before spreading throughout the body.

When Dr. Xiu tells Milla that she needs to amputate her arm to stop the cancer from spreading, the young woman does her own research and stumbles upon “alternative” treatments. With her mother Tamara’s (Susie Porter) support, Milla ignores Dr. Xiu’s advice and flies to Tijuana, Mexico to visit the “Hirsch Institute.” There, Milla is encouraged to live by its imperious founder’s rules, down to nonstop juicing and sticking coffee up her butt up to five times a day.

At first, Milla’s cancer recedes, but that’s not the full story. You’ll have to watch all of Apple Cider Vinegar to learn what happens to Milla and her sarcoma, but what even is undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma? How does it differ from epithelioid sarcoma, the disease that the real life inspiration for Milla, Jess Ainscough, battled?

Here’s everything you need to know about the kind of cancer Milla has in Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar show…

According to the Mayo Clinic, Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (or UPS) is a rare form of cancer that usually starts in the soft tissues of the body, most often in the arms (as in Milla’s case) or legs). Symptoms range from lumps and swelling to loss of appetite, fever, and weight loss. The Cleveland Clinic notes that UPS is considered “aggressive” and “malignant” because it spreads to other parts of the body and is known to return to where it originated after it was initially removed.

It’s because UPS is so stubborn and deadly that Dr. Xiu initially recommends amputation to Milla. This would stop the cancer from returning to her arm because — guess what? — there is no longer an arm for it to come back to.

Although UPS spreads to other parts of the body, specifically the lungs, 40% of the time, there is a 60% survival rate five years on for most cases.

The Cleveland Clinic interestingly notes that “amputation is rare” in UPS cases, but that it happens. Note that Milla’s case is obviously unique to her situation and based on a real life story…

From the very beginning of Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar, we’re told that the show is based on a true story about a lie. While Belle Gibson’s story is largely a faithful recreation of true live events, right down to her disastrous television interview in Episode 6, the show takes pains to protect the real life people otherwise pulled into Belle’s web.

Camilla “Milla” Blake was not a real person, but her character in Apple Cider Vinegar is clearly very much inspired by the true story of Jessica “Jess” Ainscough.

In 2008, the then 22-year-old Ainscough was diagnosed with epithelioid sarcoma. This form of sarcoma is more common in young adults than UPS and is considered extremely aggressive. Ainscough was initially told that amputation was her only option, but then was offered chemotherapy on the lump nodes on her arm. She underwent chemo that summer and soon the cancer was in remission. However, when it returned in November 2009, Ainscough was told that she had to have her arm amputated this time around. She refused.

Instead, Ainscough turned to Gerson Therapy, which is represented by the “Hirsch Institute” in Apple Cider Vinegar. Like Netflix’s version of the alternative medical treatment, Gerson is based in Mexico and advises patients to eat plant-based diets, with a focus on juice, and to endure multiple coffee enemas a day.

When these “treatments” seemed to quell Ainscough’s cancer, she made it her mission to spread the word of Gerson. She dubbed herself the “Wellness Warrior,” launching a website and publishing a book espousing her ethos.

In 2011, Ainscough’s mother Sharyn was diagnosed with breast cancer and opted to follow the Gerson Institute’s protocol. Sharyn died two and a half years later in 2013, on the exact timeline given her diagnosis if left untreated by all modern medicine.

In late 2014, Ainscough revealed that her cancer had returned and she had been suffering intense pain and bleeding from a tumor on her arm for almost a year. With her usual juices and coffee enemas not working, she finally returned to traditional oncology, accepting chemotherapy in the last weeks of her life.

Jess Ainscough died in February 2015, survived by her fiancé, Tallon Pamenter.

Milla Blake is a fictional character, but it’s easy to see where her and Ainscough’s stories line up, right down to their chic website, hot partners, and love of Sweet Valley High. Ainscough’s Instagram is still up — and there is at least one post showing her love of apple cider vinegar.

Apple Cider Vinegar is now streaming on Netflix.