Mom given just 12 months to live after worrying symptom was dismissed by doctor as heartburn
A British mom has been given 12 months to live after a worrying symptom was dismissed by doctors an incredible nine times, she claims.
It was summer last year when Georgia Gardiner started experiencing sickness and stomach cramps out the blue, with her being prescribed anti-acid reflux medication by her GP.
The 28-year-old's symptoms worsened from there, to the point where the woman from Leeds, UK dropped nearly three stone in a matter of months due to being unable to keep any food down.
"Last year in the summertime I was being sick quite a lot. I couldn't keep food down and lost my appetite completely," Georgia said.
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"I could only eat small amounts. I love food, I'm a massive foodie. My body was just rejecting everything. Then I was experiencing pains in my upper stomach. It was really intense, it was a sharp constant pain.
"I rang the doctors to get an idea about what was going on. They gave me an appointment after four weeks of waiting and gave me some anti-acid reflux medication, then sent me home."
Georgia's symptoms continued to worsen, however, and when her GP referred her for further testing, it was revealed the Brit had cancer.
Earlier this month, Georgia was told she had linitis plastica, a rare type of cancer that starts in the glands that line your organs.
"After the first appointment, we were full of hope that they could just remove it," Georgia continued. "Then when they said it was incurable, I went into a complete shock state.
"I didn't speak or leave the house for three days, my whole world just crumbled around me.
"They don't understand where this has come from. None of my immediate family have cancer and this type of cancer usually affects 70 to 80 year olds."
She continued: "I asked 'older people that get this, how long do they live?' And he said roughly 12 months. It doesn't feel real, it's an out-of-body experience.
"I feel physically fine. I was fit and healthy. It's just baffling.
"I get angry sometimes because I think if I'd been taken seriously and they'd caught it before it had spread, then maybe we could've done more to prevent it getting to the stage it's at now.
"I never thought I would have cancer, I'm 28, I thought I was invincible."
A GoFundMe has been set up to help pay for any future treatment Georgia may require.
Callum Jones