• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Woman diagnosed with rare cancer after doctors discovered tumor by accident during pregnancy

Home> News> Health

Published 14:56 13 May 2025 GMT+1

Woman diagnosed with rare cancer after doctors discovered tumor by accident during pregnancy

Doctors initially told her they weren't concerned

Gerrard Kaonga

Gerrard Kaonga

Featured Image Credit: Handout/Stupidcancer.org

Topics: Cancer, Health, News, US News

Gerrard Kaonga
Gerrard Kaonga

Gerrard is a Journalist at UNILAD and has dived headfirst into covering everything from breaking global stories to trending entertainment news. He has a bachelors in English Literature from Brunel University and has written across a number of different national and international publications. Most notably the Financial Times, Daily Express, Evening Standard and Newsweek.

Advert

Advert

Advert

One woman who was confident she didn’t have cancer, and was reassured by doctors ahead of her diagnosis that it wasn’t anything too concerning, had a pretty devastating surprise during her pregnancy.

Pregnancy can put a strain on anyone at the best of times, and most are just happy and hoping to deliver a healthy bouncing baby.

There likely isn’t much more frightening than to learn that while pregnant, you have a life-threatening illness as well.

Advert

Well, 39-year-old Michelle Kaba from New Jersey had to deal with this reality, but the difference is doctors insisted that there wasn’t anything she should be concerned about.

Speaking about her cancer diagnosis in a candid report for the Stupid Cancer organization, she said: “When I was pregnant, I was diagnosed with pancreatitis. I went through 4 different hospital stays in the span of 5.5 months and was placed on a strict, low-fat diet.

Kaba was initially told that the growth could be removed after she had been given birth but complications prevented this (Stupid Cancer)
Kaba was initially told that the growth could be removed after she had been given birth but complications prevented this (Stupid Cancer)

“After the birth, the pancreatitis was going to be gone for good and life would go back to ‘normal’.

Advert

“They said the growth they found while I was 20 weeks pregnant was benign, and it just needed to be removed after our baby was born. The doctors weren’t concerned, so neither was I.”

However, it soon turned out that the growth was no longer benign; in fact, it had even grown larger. Another biopsy was taken, and it was eventually revealed that Kaba had ampullary cancer.

After multiple tests and second opinions, Kaba and her family got some good news: the cancer hadn’t spread, it was still in stage one, and could be removed via surgery after some chemotherapy.

Speaking about her difficult road to recovery, she added: “My Whipple Procedure was successful.

Advert

“With part of my pancreas and small intestine removed along with my whole gallbladder, the tumor was gone and the pathology reports confirmed there was no longer cancer in my body.

“In a 3-week period, I was diagnosed and freed from cancer, all while becoming a new mom. It was a complete whirlwind that I still haven’t fully processed.”

What are the symptoms of ampullary cancer?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, ampullary cancer is a rare and aggressive type of carcinoma that forms in an area of your body called the ampulla of Vater.

Advert

This area is a small opening where your bile duct and pancreatic duct join.

Kaba received good news that her cancer was in Stage 1 and could eventually be removed (Stupid Cancer)
Kaba received good news that her cancer was in Stage 1 and could eventually be removed (Stupid Cancer)

Due to its location in the body, there are often fears that the cancer can spread to the liver, pancreas and other digestive system organs.

Regarding symptoms, people with this type of cancer can experience jaundice – yellowing of the skin and eyes.

Advert

Other ampullary cancer symptoms include:

  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Abdominal pain
  • Back pain
  • Itchy skin
  • Fever
  • Diarrhea
  • Anemia
  • Pancreatitis
  • Rectal bleeding
  • Fatty poops (may be greasy and clay-colored)

If you begin to experience these symptoms, it is advised you speak to your healthcare professional and get tested.

  • Doctors issue warning about little-known symptoms of rare cancer as diagnoses quadruple in two generations
  • Shocking moment TV host is told he has skin cancer by a dermatologist live on-air
  • Eight subtle symptoms that could mean you have rare appendix cancer as cases soar for two age groups
  • Kansas City Chiefs cheerleader had symptoms ‘dismissed’ by multiple doctors before being diagnosed with tumor

Choose your content:

an hour ago
11 hours ago
12 hours ago
13 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    Trump sends terrifying warning after leaving G7 early for 'much bigger' issue amid Israel-Iran attacks

    Donald Trump's comments are rather concerning considering the tensions in the region

    News
  • 11 hours ago

    Woman who only ate beef for 8 years explains shocking physical and mental impact it had on her

    After 25 years of uncertainty around why she was experiencing severe autoimmune responses, Mikhaila Peterson tried 'the lion diet'

    News
  • 12 hours ago

    Forensic team digs for remains of nearly 800 babies at former ‘mother and baby home’

    It is believed the infants were dumped into a septic tank referred to as 'the pit'

    News
  • 13 hours ago

    Billionaire Sunjay Kapur, 53, dies suddenly as tragic final words revealed

    The 53-year-old billionaire collapsed suddenly while playing polo

    News