In the UK, a medical team has apologized to a 32-year-old woman after she underwent a hysterectomy only to discover that a ‘tumor’ on her ovaries was not cancerous.
On her birthday, Rhian Butlin received a cancer diagnosis. For several weeks, doctors were unsure of the specific type of cancer she had.
Her medical difficulties began in September 2024 when Rhian consulted a doctor due to severe abdominal pain. An initial scan suggested her symptoms might be linked to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
As her pain continued and her abdomen swelled, Rhian sought further medical consultation. A subsequent scan disclosed a 25cm tumor on one of her ovaries.
On GoFundMe, Rhian’s sister Lindsey Rice detailed the challenges Rhian faced before undergoing a hysterectomy to remove the tumor.
Complications arose, including fluid drainage, sepsis, and an induced coma.
Once well enough, Rhian had the operation, which also included the removal of her appendix and bowel lining. Biopsies were taken from all three organs. She went home to recover but was called back to the hospital two months later.
Upon reviewing the biopsy results, doctors informed Rhian of their error and suggested she might have endometriosis, a condition that can resemble cancer in scans.
“She didn’t have ovarian cancer.. apparently they couldn’t locate it .. so thought she must have colon cancer,” Lindsey wrote.
Rhian then had a colonoscopy, which initially indicated she was ‘all clear’, though she still felt unwell.
The following day, Rhian contacted her doctor and discovered she had appendix cancer.
While her appendix had been removed, the cancer had already spread to her pelvis and lymph nodes, advancing to an ‘aggressive’ stage four within two months.
Rhian shared with the MailOnline: “I’m just emotionally drained. I’m constantly scared and some nights I barely sleep. It’s just been a very scary journey, if I’m 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. Then they did remove my appendix in December but it wasn’t until months later that they found cancer there.”
As a single mother, Rhian now faces several weeks of chemotherapy. The GoFundMe page notes she ‘isn’t strong enough to do what she usually does’ with her children.
“She’s everything to them. She brought them up from day one alone,” the post states, with Lindsey requesting donations to ‘create a little pot’ for the family to make cherished memories.
To contribute to the fundraiser, you can donate here.