4 weeks Ago By Jeremiah Hassel
A U.K. woman is speaking out after she was mistakenly diagnosed with cancer and underwent an unnecessary hysterectomy, for which doctors later apologized.
Rhian Butlin sought medical help for "excruciating" abdominal pain in September 2024. The 32-year-old had a scan that came back clear, and her symptoms were initially "dismissed" as PCOS, or polycystic ovarian syndrome, she shared with the Daily Mail. However, two months later, she was rushed to the hospital as the pain persisted.
Her stomach had swelled so significantly that she appeared nine months pregnant. Dad makes friend dig own grave and kill himself after raping his daughter, 6 Americans urged to check bank accounts on tax day as $2,600 direct deposits paid A second scan at the hospital revealed a nearly 10-inch long tumor on one of her ovaries, necessitating urgent surgery for removal. Butlin underwent a full hysterectomy in December.
She also had her appendix and the lining of her bowel removed after they showed signs of swelling, the Mirror US reported. The mother of two had biopsies performed on all three organs during the procedure, but the results didn't return until much later. They initially indicated that she did not have cancer.
The complications from the surgery were incredibly challenging, according to her and her family. She suffered from fluid buildup, contracted sepsis, and was placed into a medically induced coma at one point. A fundraiser via GoFundMe was set up to aid in Butlin's recovery.
The goal was to raise £3,500 (over $4,600), which was successfully exceeded by Tuesday. During the ordeal, her older sister, Lindsey Rice, revealed that she and the family were warned Butlin "wouldn't make it through the night." "Our world fell apart," she said.
Miraculously, Rhian survived and was allowed home to recuperate. Initially, a biopsy suggested Butlin had endometriosis, a condition often mistaken for cancer in scans. Classic breakfast food can lower risk of bowel cancer, oncology expert says Cancer warning as 'common' symptom that 'lingers' could be sign of disease Four foods can reduce risk of breast cancer and help to 'fight disease' "She didn't have cancer after all.
. it must be endometriosis..
which commonly gives readings similar to cancer," Rice added. The family's relief exploded into joy, believing the nightmare had ended - but their respite lasted less than 24 hours. The symptoms returned with alarming speed, compelling Butlin to seek medical advice once again.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Rice recounted the doctors' regretful admission: "They said, 'We are so sorry, we have gone through your notes and you did actually have cancer. But it was in your appendix, and it is one of the rarest forms of cancer.'" By this point, the cancer had progressed, reaching her pelvis and lymph nodes, culminating in a diagnosis of stage 4, described as "incurable.
" Overwhelmed, Butlin confided to the publication, "I'm just emotionally drained. I'm constantly scared, and some nights, I barely sleep. It's just been a very scary journey, to be honest.
Obviously, I've had a full hysterectomy when I did not need to." "I've had my ovaries removed when I did not have ovarian cancer, and I've had the lining of my bowel removed when I did not have bowel cancer," she explained. "Then, they did remove my appendix in December, but it wasn't until months later that they found cancer there.
" Butlin has recently started her first three-month stint of intensive chemotherapy. Rice shared her displeasure with the medical attention she received. "It's not been the best experience," Rice stated.
"If they figured it out earlier on, then we would not be in the position we are in now. It feels like we have been massively let down.".
