A 33-year-old mother of three was diagnosed with terminal stage four metastatic ovarian cancer after two general practitioners misidentified her symptoms. Becky Small, a logistics manager from Hampshire, England, experienced severe abdominal bloating and back pain starting in April, initially suspecting a recurrence of polycystic ovary syndrome.
Her condition worsened over the following weeks, with her abdomen becoming hard and distended to the point where she felt she looked nine months pregnant. She reported significant discomfort, difficulty sleeping, and pain that prevented her from moving easily in bed.
On April 27, a GP prescribed medication for inflammation after an examination and urine test. When her symptoms did not improve, Small consulted a different GP three days later. This second doctor, she claims, did not conduct any tests or physically examine her abdomen, instead diagnosing suspected gastroenteritis and predicting a swift recovery.
By May 5, Small's condition had deteriorated to the point where she sought treatment at an emergency department. Describing her stomach as "rock solid," she experienced breathing and walking difficulties due to the extreme bloating. At the A&E, she underwent examinations, blood tests, and a CT scan. Medical staff expressed surprise that she had not undergone these tests earlier.
Hours later, Small received the diagnosis: two lesions on her ovaries and one on her kidney. A biopsy on May 20 confirmed stage four metastatic cancer that originated in her ovaries. She began chemotherapy on May 29 and is scheduled for a full hysterectomy in August.
Ovarian cancer affects approximately 7,000 women annually in the UK, resulting in 4,000 deaths. The disease is particularly aggressive, and early detection is challenging as symptoms are often mistaken for less serious conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, stress, or menopause. The primary symptoms include bloating, abdominal pain, reduced appetite, and changes in urinary frequency, alongside back pain.
When diagnosed at its earliest stage, the survival rate for ovarian cancer is around 95% for five years or more. Small is undergoing further chemotherapy and plans to focus on spending time with her children, Logan, 10, Harley, eight, and Iris, four. A fundraiser has been established to support her family during her treatment.