Woman's early cancer warning sign dismissed by doctors before she was diagnosed
Callum Jones
Featured Image Credit: SWNS
A British grandmother has detailed the early warning signs doctors dismissed before she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
In January 2025, Sarah Williams experienced constipation and was advised by healthcare professionals to take laxatives to ease her symptoms.
However, the 53-year-old's condition worsened after a friend noticed her eyes had turned yellow while she was caring for her grandchild.
After seeking health advice, Sarah went to hospital for further tests. The next day she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
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The learning support teacher said: "When I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, the nurse said I had three options.
"She said I could go home with no treatment and spend time with my family.
"I have the operation, which I ended up doing, or they just treat my cancer with chemotherapy.
"We were all shocked, my husband and I burst into tears, and he phoned our children to tell them the news."
Sarah underwent an operation to have the tumor removed, as well as the 20 lymph nodes from the surrounding area and was released from hospital after nine days of being monitored.
However, her first night back home, Sarah woke up screaming with pain.
"After I was blue-lit to the hospital, it was revealed that I had two blood clots in my lungs," she said.
"I was in sepsis, and they drained my stomach.
"For five days, all they could do was help with the pain, before transferring me back to Royal London Hospital."
Sarah was meant to go through 12 rounds of chemotherapy following the sepsis scare, which she began in June last year.
But that was cut short after six weeks and three sessions after doctors uncovered Sarah's white and red blood cells weren't high enough to continue chemotherapy.
After many more hospital stays, Sarah went for a private CT scan in January this year, which revealed cancer in her lungs, liver and pancreatic bed.
Due to a long NHS waiting list, the Brit is now privately funding chemotherapry treatment.
A GoFundMe page has also been set up to help support the cause.
Sarah added: "My sister, Nikki, launched a GoFundMe so we can pay for chemotherapy privately. The amount of support and messages I have got is overwhelming.
"So many people, people we used to work with, old school friends, have contributed; it is overwhelming.
"We want to extend our gratitude to everyone who has donated to help me."