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A woman has issued a warning to others after her 17cm tumour went repeatedly misdiagnosed by doctors, having been told she simply had a urinary tract infection (UTI).
Emily-Jane Siviter, 29, was prescribed antibiotics after describing her symptoms to GPs during online video appointments.
She explained how she felt sharp pain just before she finished peeing, saying it felt ‘like a pressure’.
Doctors believed she was suffering from a UTI, but it turned out to be something much more sinister.
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“I gave them all my symptoms and said, ‘I’ve already been diagnosed previously with the UTI, had the antibiotics and that hasn’t worked’,” Emily-Jane told PA Real Life.
“I think if they had done a blood test, it would have alerted them to do more tests… and they would have figured it out sooner.
“If a GP had seen my records, you would think they would have said ‘Oh OK, she’s been on this three times, just come and get your blood taken so we can do a bit more research rather than just saying it’s a UTI again.”
After first contacting her GP in July 2023, by December that year alarm bells had started to ring when Emily-Jane felt a lump close to her right hip, having noticed the area was slightly elevated.
Scans confirmed the lump was a 17cm tumour on her ovary, which was pushing against her bladder, in turn causing pain every time she went to the toilet.
Emily-Jane was diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer, and in March 2024 had an operation to remove the dangerous cells and part of her intestine.
This means she can no longer have children and will likely have to use a stoma bag for the rest of her life.
Emily-Jane has also been forced to quit her jobs at a telecoms company and Starbucks, meaning she’s been relying on friends and family – who launched a GoFundMe - to support her recovery.
“I’ve applied for universal credit but it takes so long for them to verify your illness so I’ve just been getting the standard allowance,” she said.
Emily-Jane has now started chemotherapy in case there are any rogue cancer cells left.
“From January until now it’s just been crap,” she said, adding as a warning to others: “If you are not getting any help from the GP and you’ve got some kind of unfamiliar pain, just request a blood test because then they’ll get serious.”
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “GP practices in Wales are required to offer a blended model of access that includes a mix of face-to-face and remote consultations that are appropriate to patient need.
“We expect practices to follow professional guidance issued by the General Medical Council and Royal College of General Practitioners on the use of remote consultations in general practice.”
To find out more about how to support Emily-Jane visit: www.gofundme.com/f/helping-ems.
Jess Hardiman