
Teenager who thought she was pregnant diagnosed with ovarian cancer
A teenager who thought she was pregnant after her stomach unexpectedly became rounder, and who was told it was constipation by her GP, was later diagnosed with ovarian cancer and is now a student nurse after realising “life is too short”. Summer Edwards, 22, a student nurse at the University of the West of England, from Bristol, went from a size six to size 10 “in a matter of weeks” and thought she was pregnant in 2020, but her GP reassured her that it was constipation. After trying strong doses of laxatives and having two catheters fitted, nothing improved, and she was eventually diagnosed with an ovarian cyst which doctors were able to remove successfully. However doctors then found an extremely rare 19cm by 17cm tumour and Summer was diagnosed with stage one ovarian cancer. Summer had keyhole surgery to remove it, which was a success, but she also found out she had a rare gene, DICER1, which meant she was more susceptible to other types of cancer. Six members of her family have since been diagnosed with the gene, including her 16-year-old cousin who now has lung cancer, but Summer says she is a “fighter”. Since Summer was diagnosed with cancer she has been training as a student nurse, which is something she has “always” wanted to do. In May 2020, at the age of 18, while working in a hospital as a healthcare assistant, Summer began to notice her stomach was getting rounder, but put it down to eating a few extra treats at work. She said: “My mum was convinced I was pregnant, and I began to believe it, but I took a pregnancy test and it came back negative. “I went from a size six to size 10 in a matter of weeks, and one day I was in the garden in a bikini and my mum said that she thought something was really wrong because my stomach was really round.” To reassure her mum, Summer went to her GP and was prescribed a strong dose of laxatives, as they thought she was constipated. But after two weeks of taking the medication nothing changed, so Summer was called in to her GP surgery. Summer said: “The doctor felt my stomach and they said something was not right, but I didn’t think much of it.” Summer also had blood tests, and spotted that her blood was being run for a CA-125 test, a tumour marker for ovarian cancer, and a few days later was asked to have an internal ultrasound, where she was told her bladder was “completely full” with more than a litre of urine. Doctors told Summer there was “nothing they could do at that point” so, after asking her doctor friend for advice, she went straight to A&E and had a catheter fitted. She said: “I was devastated, I was only 18 and I really didn’t want to be walking around with a catheter strapped to my leg or be signed off work for 12 weeks.” After a few days of being catheterised, Summer continued urinating as usual, so she returned to the hospital and had another fitted. But the following day she began experiencing a great deal of pain. She said: “It was weird, I went to the toilet and I noticed a lot of blood in the bag, and I was still weeing. “I was taken into hospital – at this point, I was screaming in pain.” Summer then had a CT scan, and it was found that her bladder was never full – instead, she had a large ovarian cyst which was successfully removed with surgery. But two weeks later Summer went for her post-operation check-up and was told she had a 19cm by 17cm tumour. She said: “They told me I had a Sertoli-Leydig cell tumour, which was really rare. “They told me there was only one other person in the UK that had it at that point and my blood tests came back fine on the CA-125 marker because it causes a boost in testosterone so didn’t show as a marker. “It didn’t sink in at all, and the first thing I did was take my sick note to work – I was gutted I couldn’t work. “When I told people there, they cried, so I did too, but it didn’t hit me for a while.” On July 1 2020 Summer had a hospital appointment to find out more about her tumour, and to her devastation she found out she had ovarian cancer. She said: “They explained more about my tumour, and that there have not been any clinical trials for it because it’s so rare. “I put it bluntly and asked them if I had cancer and they said yes. “My mum was upset about it more than me – I think it’s more scary for those around you.” About two weeks later Summer had keyhole surgery to remove the tumour, which was a success. She said: “I was so relieved, and in my post-op review they asked me if I wanted preventive chemotherapy and I said no, as the pros outweigh the cons for me. “I’d rather live my life now and deal with chemotherapy in the future if it ever comes back.” Since then Summer has had internal ultrasounds every three months, which will continue for the next ten years. She has also been genetically tested, and she was diagnosed with DICER1 syndrome – an inherited disorder that increases the risk of cancerous tumours, most commonly in the lungs, kidneys, ovaries and thyroid. Summer said: “I now know that if I have kids, they will probably have the gene, and I’ve looked into IVF and PGD (preimplantation genetic diagnosis) but there is no licence to test for DICER1, I’d have to go and ask for one to be made. “I know that I’m probably more likely to get another type of cancer in the future too.” Summer’s immediate family tested negative for the gene, but when Summer’s aunt came to one of her appointments with her, she believed her daughter, Summer’s 16-year-old cousin, had the gene. Summer said: “After tests, my aunt and five of her children have the gene, and one of them has lung cancer but she’s a fighter.” Now Summer is a student nurse – she has “always wanted” to work in healthcare, and has been doing so since she was 17, but when she received her cancer diagnosis it pushed her to apply for university. She said: “My tutors are amazing and I have had time off for scans and things, but I absolutely love it. “Having the diagnosis made me realise there’s no time to wait and life is too short.” For more information, visit: targetovariancancer.org.uk/ or www.nhs.uk/conditions/ovarian-cancer/. Read More Teenager who thought she was pregnant diagnosed with ovarian cancer Jonnie Irwin details experience with palliative hospice care Carol Vorderman shares warning to sunbathers after skin cancer scare Jonnie Irwin details experience with palliative hospice care Carol Vorderman shares warning to sunbathers after skin cancer scare This is how often you should actually change your razor
2023-07-24 18:09

North Dakota panel will reconsider denying permit for Summit CO2 pipeline
North Dakota utility regulators will reconsider their denial of a siting permit for a proposed carbon dioxide pipeline
2023-09-16 06:36

Broadcom Secures $28.4 Billion Debt Financing for VMware Buy
Broadcom Inc. has secured up to $28.4 billion in new debt commitments to fund its purchase of VMware
2023-08-18 03:54

Carol Vorderman shares warning to sunbathers after skin cancer scare
Carol Vorderman was well and truly a sun worshipper growing up. “Oh God, yes. I was burning away merrily for many, many years,” she remembers with a groan. The former Countdown presenter, 62, says her generation was the first to really become obsessed with the sun. “I’m of the generation where we started to sunbathe – my mother’s generation didn’t. We were also caught in the formative years, the 60s, 70s, 80s, where we had absolutely no idea of what sun protection was – you just couldn’t buy it. I think it was the 90s that began,” she explains. “So in all of our youth we were encouraging each other to sunbathe doused in cooking oil.” Vorderman remembers the ways people would try and boost their tan – from sunbathing surrounded by metal foil (so you could “get all the rays of the sun” and “burn nicely”) to discovering sunbeds (“we thought they were marvellous”) – and she was particularly keen on soaking up as much of the sun as possible, as she grew up by the sea. She says anyone her age “will remember all that”, but now “we know the dangers”. Vorderman is unsurprised by Cancer Research UK’s latest statistics, showing melanoma skin cancer cases in the UK have reached an all-time high. According to the charity, 17,500 cases are diagnosed every year, with projections suggesting the numbers could increase by 50% over the next 20 years. Research suggests people around Vorderman’s age are increasingly affected, with the probability of people aged 55 and older getting skin cancer almost tripling since the 1990s. Bristol-based Vorderman herself had a scare when she was around 50. She was concerned by some changes in her skin, so went to see a dermatologist – who sent off a biopsy for testing, with results revealing the cells were precancerous. The presenter is at pains to emphasise she doesn’t want people to feel sorry for her – “I had no symptoms, nothing like that” and the cells were removed – but she’s instead trying to highlight how crucial it is to be sun safe. “What I do now is I’ve had a check-up every year, all over, ever since,” she says – and that isn’t the only change she’s made. “I slather myself in SPF at all opportunities. In many ways, the damage is already done, but I don’t sunbathe now, or I cover myself up.” Vorderman has teamed up with Boots brand Soltan and Macmillan Cancer Support on a sun-safety campaign, and her efforts to raise awareness around the issue aren’t just inspired by her own experiences. Her mother died in 2017 after suffering from three types of cancer – the third being melanoma. “Not a single time in her life did she sunbathe – my mum had a different skin to me, she had moles, I don’t,” Vorderman says. “I know that makes you much more prone to melanomas.” Cancer Research UK cites a study that found melanoma risk was higher in people with more than 100 moles compared with people who have fewer than 15 moles. For Vorderman, talking about these issues, whether publicly or among friends, is key. “It’s part of life. The more we talk about it, the better it is – as with everything. It’s like talking about the menopause, talking about women’s issues, talking about all sorts of cancers… As we know with all cancers, the sooner you can have something checked, the better the outcome should be.” Vorderman has in recent years made a name for herself for posting her unfiltered political beliefs on social media, and whether it’s talking about politics or causes close to her heart, she won’t back down. “I’ve always been pretty confident, but now you get to a point in life where you think – I feel strongly about things as they stand in this country at the moment. I’ve never known anything as bad. I think everyone should speak out.” She believes in the old saying: ‘The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to say nothing’, adding: “I take that with me.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Carol Vorderman: Why my skin cancer scare means I no longer sunbathe This is how often you should actually change your razor Are we working out too hard?
2023-07-24 16:48

Maya Jama and Stormzy fans rejoice as couple rekindle their relationship: 'The world is healing'
Fans have expressed their excitement for Maya Jama and Stormzy, who reportedly 'rekindled their relationship' after being spotted hand-in-hand in Greece. In snaps shared online earlier this week, the Love Island host stunned in a black bikini top paired with a midi-length white skirt alongside the rapper dressed in white shorts and a vest while carrying shopping bags. A source has since told The Sun: "Stormzy is really open about wanting to settle down and have kids one day and he knows Maya is 'The One'." When news spread of the pair's reunion, fans flocked to X/ Twitter to share their delight. "Stormzy and Maya Jama are on holiday together. The world is healing," one user wrote, while another added: "OMG I feel genuine relief at the news of Maya Jama and Stormzy back together." "Tonight we raise a glass to Stormzy and Maya," a third joked. One person humoured: "People don’t know that it was actually me who manifested Maya Jama and Stormzy getting back together." Meanwhile, another spoke on behalf of fans, adding: "Even though it's none of my business and doesn't affect my life in the slightest, hearing Maya Jama and Stormzy are back together has made me so happy??" The pair parted ways in 2019 after four years of dating. Since then, Stormzy has mentioned Jama several times throughout the years including in his song 'Lessons' where he said: "My nephew's still asking for his Aunty Maya / Guess this is the karma for what I done to Maya". In an interview with Louis Theroux, Stormzy candidly said the breakup was his "biggest catalyst" to grow as a person. He said: "It was like, OK, you made a mistake and you lose someone you loved, someone you cared for, someone who is special to you." He went on to call the separation "probably the biggest loss a man can have, isn’t it? Away from someone passing away, that’s the biggest loss you can have." Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-08-29 23:22

Police officer charged with lying about leaks to Proud Boys leader
A police officer has been arrested on charges that he lied about leaking confidential information to a leader of the far-right Proud Boys extremist group and obstructed an investigation after group members destroyed a Black Lives Matter banner in the nation's capital
2023-05-19 21:52

El Nino is threatening rice crops while grain supplies already are squeezed by the war in Ukraine
Experts are warning that rice production across South and Southeast Asia is likely to suffer with the world heading into an El Nino
2023-07-13 11:35

BT to Cut Up to 42% of Jobs by 2030 Following Fiber Rollout
BT Group Plc said it plans to cut its labor force, including employees and contractors, by as much
2023-05-18 15:36

Tanker Billionaire Fredriksen Clashes With Another Shipper
Norwegian shipping billionaire John Fredriksen has clashed with another tanker company after his tumultuous attempt to buy Euronav
2023-05-31 12:19

YouTuber discovers massive hole in New York sidewalk
A YouTuber stunned the internet after discovering a massive deep hole in a New York City sidewalk. Internet personality Casey Neistat shared his shocking discovery in a video that has gone viral across social media. Text overlaying the video read: “Gotta watch out on New York City sidewalks”. In the clip, Neistat was filming on a New York City street when the camera of his phone panned to reveal a corner of a paving slab that was crumbling and appeared to be sagging downwards. Neistat pressed his foot into the crumbling part of the slab which dramatically fell away leaving a fairly sizeable and dangerous-looking hole. He put his arm holding the phone down the hole, with the camera revealing just how deep it went into the ground. Various rusted pipe work could be seen occupying the space. The 20-second video has been viewed almost 26 million times on TikTok and has also been shared across other social media platforms, sparking quite a reaction. @caseyneistat ⚠️ Other TikTokers took to the comments, where they joked that the hole would probably soon be rented out as an apartment. “That’s someone’s studio apartment. $2,300 a month plus utilities,” someone joked in the comments section. Another said: “Bro found Old York.” One concerned viewer wrote: “Casey, I hope you called someone.” “Bro out here wasting injury lawsuits,” someone else quipped. Someone else suggested: “Mans found the entrance to Super Mario World.” Along the same lines, another person asked: “Are the ninja turtles in there?” Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-09-14 16:42

India captain Sharma looks forward to 'jam packed' venues when Cricket World Cup starts
The 10 team captains at the Cricket World Cup have taken part in a photo shoot at the Narendra Modi Stadium on the eve of the tournament, with India’s Rohit Sharma looking forward to seeing the massive venue “jam packed” with home fans
2023-10-04 23:29

Beaumont hails new era for rugby with unveiling of dual-hemisphere tournament
World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said on Tuesday the sport was about to enter an "exciting new era" with the unveiling of a new bi-annual international competition from 2026, comprising a top division of 12 teams from the...
2023-10-24 21:42
You Might Like...

Breakfast for 40 cents: what China's deflation looks like

Generali Nears $2 Billion Deal for Liberty Mutual’s European Units

Amouranth: Twitch streamer surprises fans with big announcement ahead of XBIZ Creator Awards

Nextlink Delivers High-Speed Internet to 95% of Wise County, Texas in 7 months

Alix Earle stuns in white swimsuit while enjoying beach rave in Ibiza

Heat make it a series: Best tweets and memes from Game 2 win over Nuggets

New Games Added to PlayStation Plus Game Catalog October 2022

West African bloc names Nigeria's Tinubu as new head