Burton mother diagnosed with incurable cancer after not going to GP for a stomach ache in lockdown

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Mother-of-three, 36, is diagnosed with incurable cancer after she held off going to the doctor for a stomach ache during lockdown because she ‘didn’t want to waste their time’

  • Johanna William, 36, from Burton, Staffordshire, suffered abdomen pains in April
  • But she did not see a GP because she knew the NHS was ‘overwhelmed’  by Covid
  • CT scan in June confirmed the mother-of-three had two tumours in adrenal gland
  • This had also spread to her liver, kidney and spleen – stage four incurable cancer

By James Gant For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

A mother-of-three has been diagnosed with incurable cancer after she held off going to the doctor for a stomach ache during lockdown.

Johanna William, 36, from Burton, Staffordshire, suffered abdomen pains in April but did not see her GP because she knew the NHS was ‘overwhelmed’ by the coronavirus and ‘didn’t want to waste their time’.

A CT scan in early June confirmed the chef had two tumours in her adrenal gland spreading to her liver, kidney and spleen – stage four incurable cancer.

Johanna William, 36, from Burton, Staffordshire, suffered abdomen pains in April but did not see her GP because she knew the NHS was ‘overwhelmed’ by the coronavirus and ‘didn’t want to waste their time’

A CT scan in early June confirmed the chef (pictured with her children Lewis, 17, Lillian, 15 and eight-year-old Gabriel) had two tumours in her adrenal gland spreading to her liver, kidney and spleen - stage four incurable cancer

A CT scan in early June confirmed the chef (pictured with her children Lewis, 17, Lillian, 15 and eight-year-old Gabriel) had two tumours in her adrenal gland spreading to her liver, kidney and spleen – stage four incurable cancer

Ms William, who is mother to Lewis, 17, Lillian, 15 and eight-year-old Gabriel, was diagnosed with appendicitis before lockdown after experiencing stomach pains

Ms William, who is mother to Lewis, 17, Lillian, 15 and eight-year-old Gabriel, was diagnosed with appendicitis before lockdown after experiencing stomach pains

Her best friend and neighbour Nichola Baker, 36, set up a GoFund me page to help her make some memories with her children (pictured) before she gets worse

Her best friend and neighbour Nichola Baker, 36, set up a GoFund me page to help her make some memories with her children (pictured) before she gets worse

WHAT IS ADRENAL CANCER?

The adrenal glands sit on the top of each kidney and produce a number of vital hormones essential for survival.

However tumours – either benign or malignant (cancerous) – can form on the glands. 

Around 40 people a year in the UK are diagnosed with a malignant tumour on their adrenal glands.

Benign or malignant tumours can also produce hormones, triggering symptoms that affect the whole body.

If a tumour creates hormones, a person may have raised blood pressure, thirst, passing urine frequently, muscle cramps, weight gain that is more noticeable in the trunk of the body

Other symptoms include muscle wasting in the legs or arms, making them look thinner, fat accumulation in the base of the neck (known as a buffalo hump), swelling of the face giving a rounded appearance.

Abnormal hair growth on the face, arms and upper back can also occur, as well as mild diabetes. 

However, if the tumour does not create hormones, a person may not have any symptoms until the cancer is quite far advanced. 

Then they may start to have pain, tiredness and weight loss.

Malignant adrenal tumours can be quite a fast growing type of cancer.

They are often diagnosed in the later stages (when they are quite advanced) and this means it can be difficult to cure them.

Ms William said: ‘I didn’t want to waste the doctors’ time for a tummy ache, the NHS had so much going on.

‘In June the pain got so bad I went to the hospital. Originally they thought they were two cysts but after the radiologists had a look at them they confirmed they were two tumours.

‘I had to wait a week to hear back from the oncology specialist- it was a very long week.

‘I was in shock, it never crossed my mind, a stomach ache could have been cancer. I was thinking I might have eaten the wrong thing or maybe I have an intolerance to dairy or something like that.’

She added: ‘Never in a million years I thought it was going to be as bad as it is.’

Ms William, who is mother to Lewis, 17, Lillian, 15 and eight-year-old Gabriel, was diagnosed with appendicitis before lockdown after experiencing stomach pains.

Since the cancer diagnosis, she has started aggressive chemotherapy, which she will have for the next six months.

She said: ‘It’s such a rare type of cancer, the only reason they found out was because of the CT scan.

‘I had a blood test in the spring and was told I had inflammation of the appendix- the doctors prescribed antibiotics and painkillers for appendicitis and sent me home.

‘Because of Covid-19, they couldn’t do CT scans or surgery – all non-essential procedures had been stopped due to the virus.

‘If I never had the appendicitis symptoms they would never have found out.’

Her best friend and neighbour Nichola Baker, 36, set up a GoFund me page to help her make some memories with her children before she gets worse.

Ms William has a list of activities she wants to do, such as going paint-balling and go-karting with her children, and going for a dining experience with her friend.

She added: ‘I had to sit down the kids and tell them but I couldn’t – thankfully my friend Nichola helped me.

‘I am quite lucky I have good support from Nichola and the local community. I want to tell people out there, if you get a stomach ache don’t just leave it, you need to take these things seriously, I have learnt that the hard way.’