Doctors dismissed woman's pain as obesity and gas; she had a 15-pound tumor

Irene Sinsombutcharoen, then 30, experienced severe abdominal pain and bloating while on a cruise in March 2022. The discomfort quickly escalated to intense pain, making it difficult for her to walk.

Initially, her pain was dismissed by a primary care doctor in June 2022, who attributed her symptoms to her weight and gas. Sinsombutcharoen reported feeling dismissed by this assessment, noting she could feel a solid lump in her abdomen.

Two months later, in August 2022, she sought care at an emergency room. Doctors who examined her abdomen immediately noticed a hardness and proceeded with further tests. A transvaginal ultrasound and a CT scan revealed a large mass in her abdomen. Blood tests also indicated elevated CA-125 levels, a marker often associated with ovarian cancer.

Doctors informed Sinsombutcharoen that she needed surgery to remove the mass, but also discovered she had a blood clot in her leg, likely formed due to her immobility from pain. It took six weeks of blood thinner treatment before surgery could be considered. During this waiting period, Sinsombutcharoen described her abdomen becoming progressively larger, resembling a full-term pregnancy.

Doctors determined the mass originated from her left ovary. She was given a choice: remove only the left ovary, with an 85% chance of recurrence within five years, or undergo a hysterectomy, which would remove all reproductive organs and prevent future pregnancies. Sinsombutcharoen opted to have only the left ovary removed, provided her right ovary was clear.

Upon waking from surgery, she had a 13-inch scar. The mass, which had not spread to her right ovary, weighed 15 pounds and measured 28 centimeters. A biopsy confirmed the mass was a stage 1A ovarian cancer, with half of it being malignant and the other half "borderline cancerous."

Ovarian cancer, the fifth-leading cause of cancer-related death among women in the US, often presents with vague symptoms such as bloating, pelvic pain, fatigue, and bleeding. There is no standard screening method for it.

Sinsombutcharoen did not require further treatment like chemotherapy and has been cancer-free for four years. She now undergoes regular blood tests and ultrasounds to monitor for recurrence. She has begun sharing her story on social media to raise awareness for ovarian cancer and encourage women to seek second opinions if they feel their concerns are not being adequately addressed by medical professionals.

"Doctors, sadly enough, will dismiss women, but we have to keep pushing and not wait it out," she told the Daily Mail. "Ultimately, we know our body best."