Woman Had 6 Organs Removed, Nearly Died After Doctors Dismissed Stomach Pain for 7 Years: ‘They Gutted Me Like a Fish’

**Survivor of Misdiagnosed Ovarian Cancer Shares Her Journey to Raise Awareness**

A woman from Manchester has opened up about her harrowing experience with misdiagnosed ovarian cancer, highlighting the importance of women advocating for their own health. Caroline Padmore, a 36-year-old teacher, suffered through seven years of severe abdominal pain, only to discover she had advanced stage 3 ovarian cancer.

Padmore’s ordeal began when she started experiencing excruciating pain in her abdomen and pelvis, which occasionally caused her to collapse. Despite visiting emergency rooms on numerous occasions, doctors attributed her symptoms to various conditions, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), appendicitis, and menstrual cramps. “I even asked if it could be cancer, but this was ignored,” she recounted.

The turning point in her health journey occurred after the birth of her son, Leo, in October 2024. Throughout the last eight weeks of her pregnancy, Padmore endured intense pain, which escalated post-labour, leading to frequent bouts of vomiting. Concerned for her health, she visited her general practitioner, resulting in an ultrasound and CT scan. The results were shocking; doctors informed her that they had discovered numerous tumours, some the size of oranges, throughout her abdomen.

In January 2025, a biopsy confirmed her diagnosis of ovarian cancer. The new mother expressed disbelief that such significant tumours could remain undetected during her regular pregnancy scans. “How do you miss orange-sized tumours when you’re being scanned all the time?” she questioned, reflecting on the missed opportunities for earlier intervention. She learned that the hormonal changes from her pregnancy had accelerated the growth of the cancer, exacerbating her symptoms.

Once diagnosed, Padmore faced the harsh reality that her cancer had likely been developing since her mid-to-late twenties. “It felt like an out-of-body experience. I felt ignored and not listened to,” she said, stressing her frustration over the dismissal of her pain. Doctors advised a life-saving surgery that required the removal of her reproductive organs, leading to deep emotional distress. “That’s what made me cry. I was already planning baby number two,” she added.

While medical professionals offered to freeze her eggs to preserve her fertility, Padmore declined, fearing that the delay could jeopardise her health. In February 2025, she underwent an extensive surgery that involved the removal of her ovaries, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, appendix, omentum, and multiple tumours, alongside segments of her liver and bowel. Following surgery, she commenced chemotherapy, which was completed in August 2025.

Despite the challenging nature of her treatment, Padmore’s most jarring experience came with the physical and emotional toll of her surgery. “They gutted me like a fish,” she reflected, mentioning that complications led to her requiring a stoma, despite being assured it was unlikely. Just days after finishing chemotherapy, she required emergency surgery again for a twisted bowel, where doctors informed her that without immediate intervention, her life would have been at stake.

Today, Padmore is grateful that her most recent scans show no signs of disease. She has since undergone a stoma reversal and is eager to focus on her recovery. However, the emotional scars remain. She reflects on the lost possibility of expanding her family, stating, “It will never, ever get easier.”

Now, Padmore is determined to use her experience to inspire other women to take control of their health. She cautions against ignoring symptoms and encourages women to persist in seeking answers if they feel dismissed by medical professionals. “If my condition had been identified earlier, I might have been spared the severe consequences,” she lamented, underscoring the reality that age often leads to assumptions about a woman’s health concerns being less serious.

“Women must advocate for themselves,” Padmore urged, wanting to spread awareness of the symptoms and realities of ovarian cancer, which disproportionately affects younger women. Her story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of misdiagnosis and the urgent need for greater patient advocacy in the medical field.

By sharing her incidents, Padmore hopes to provide a voice for those who have been silenced and empower others to trust their instincts when it comes to their health. As she works towards regaining her strength, she remains a powerful testament to resilience in the face of adversity.