I thought I had a stomach bug – but it turned out to be cancer: Heartbreak of 41-year-old whose disease has spread through her body

A lady has advised how she is battling most cancers after initially mistaking her signs for abdomen bug.

When Kasia Szczech, who lives in London, began experiencing frequent bouts of illness after consuming final September, she assumed a virus had taken maintain.

Nonetheless, the 41-year-old went to her GP when her signs did not enhance.

Check outcomes confirmed the service assist administrator had bile duct most cancers and a 10cm ‘grapefruit-sized’ tumour was rising inside her.

Whereas preliminary therapy appeared profitable, the most cancers has returned and unfold all through her physique.

Ms Szczech stated: ‘I used to be simply being sick, vomiting, so I believed it was a virus or that it was an intolerance to meals.

‘I believed it was a abdomen bug. I believed it was so simple as that.’

In October 2022, Ms Szczech visited her about her signs.

She requested the GP for a referral however then went non-public with Bupa and had blood exams, MRIs, ultrasounds and a biopsy.

After preliminary checks confirmed irregular outcomes, medical doctors advised Ms Szczech to ‘put together for the worst possibility’ and that the state of affairs ‘was critical’. 

Leads to November revealed she had bile duct most cancers.

She stated: ‘The physician stated that the most cancers cells had been confirmed and that I might begin therapy instantly. [They said] that I’m younger and have a powerful physique. 

‘After that, I barely heard what the physician was saying as a result of all I knew in my head was that it was most cancers.’

Round 2,200 Brits and eight,000 Individuals are recognized with the most cancers yearly.

The most cancers kinds within the bile ducts — small tubes that join completely different organs, together with the liver and gall bladder. 

Nausea and being sick, together with different signs affecting digestion — reminiscent of abdomen ache, lack of urge for food and unintentional weight reduction — are indicators.

The tumour may also trigger the whites of the eyes and pores and skin to show yellow, itchy pores and skin and urine that’s darker than normal. 

Surgical procedure, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are among the many go-to remedies. 

Regardless of her ‘surprising’ analysis, Ms Szczech stated she remained calm.

She began chemo in December in a bid to shrink the tumour.

Additional exams two months later confirmed the mass had shrunk to lower than half its dimension, along with her household believing the ordeal was over.

She acquired chemo till Might and in June began immunotherapy — a drug therapy that reinforces the immune system to assist it battle off most cancers cells.

However in September 2023, scans revealed ‘extreme’ development of her most cancers.

Docs stated the most cancers had unfold throughout her whole physique.

And her authentic tumour is believed to have grown again to its former dimension, with extra growths showing throughout her physique, largely her lungs and bones.

It’s unclear how a lot time she has left, in accordance with her sister Gosia.

Ms Szczech’s ex-boyfriend, Justine Pearman, 50, has turn out to be her full-time carer, which her household are ‘eternally’ grateful for.

Gosia stated: ‘He’s an excellent man with an enormous coronary heart and I am glad he is there to assist, as she will’t stroll very properly anymore, so must be carried quite a lot of the time.

‘Kasia, whereas staying sturdy, is quickly shedding her hair and her focus is getting worse, as she will not maintain consideration for greater than 5 minutes.

‘She’s additionally began to have pins and needles in her arms and toes, in addition to being delicate to chilly objects.’

Ms Szczech is now present process chemo each two weeks within the hopes to scale back the unfold of her most cancers.

Nonetheless, her sister has arrange a GoFundMe within the hopes of elevating funds for proton remedy — a kind of radiotherapy — which prices as much as £100,000.

The therapy — which zaps most cancers cells whereas defending close by wholesome cells — is obtainable on the NHS at clinics in Manchester and London.

The well being service says it is just appropriate for uncommon cancers or these near delicate components of the physique — reminiscent of people who develop within the head or neck. 

Gosia stated: ‘We need to imagine that Kasia will stick with us so long as that’s attainable. That there’s a treatment and probability for her. 

‘We did not get any info from Kasia’s medical doctors that this remedy will assist. We did not get any info from them to be trustworthy. 

‘So we’re searching for each chance which could assist.’

The fundraiser has raised round £2,000 of an preliminary £20,000 goal.

Gosia stated: ‘We’re nonetheless ready to listen to about how she’s reacting to chemotherapy, however this will probably be life altering – and saving.

‘Proper now, although, it is all a ready sport.

‘I might do something to get this horrible illness away from her and it is actually exhausting making an attempt to specific my feelings. I am a mixture of each offended and unhappy.

‘However she’s sturdy, and I do know this may not be the tip for her, so I am making an attempt to do every part I can to push any negativity away.

‘I all the time thought we might develop previous collectively – and that’s nonetheless my plan.’