Chelsea Gallimore, 33, from Prescot, Merseyside, was diagnosed with a rare incurable cancer after initially dismissing her symptoms as constipation. The mother-of-one woke up one morning in agony with a swollen stomach and was barely able to move for six hours before calling an ambulance.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Scans revealed an eight-centimetre mass on her bowel, and a biopsy confirmed a gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST), a rare cancer affecting only about 900 people annually in the UK. GIST is most common in people aged 55 to 65, making Chelsea's diagnosis at age 31 particularly unusual.
She underwent surgery in March 2024 and began targeted therapy with imatinib. She stopped the drug in June 2025 after scans appeared stable, but the cancer returned and spread, becoming incurable and inoperable. She now receives palliative treatment to prolong her life, with scans every three months.
Impact on Family
Chelsea, who has an 11-year-old son Milo with partner Andrew Mason, 29, said the diagnosis has been heartbreaking. She has had to discuss end-of-life wishes and funeral arrangements. The couple plans to marry in November to celebrate with family and friends while she can still enjoy the occasion.
"I'm in a lot of pain all the time and on a high dose of pain relief. I'm sleeping a lot and I’m under the palliative care team," she said.
Raising Awareness
Chelsea is documenting her journey on social media to raise awareness of GIST and encourage people to seek medical advice for persistent symptoms. According to Cancer Research UK, early-stage GIST often has no symptoms, leading to late diagnosis. Later symptoms include abdominal pain, discomfort, a feeling of fullness, sickness, and fatigue.
Her story was read in Parliament during discussions that led to the Rare Cancers Act, passed this year. "The cancer is so rare that I'd never heard of it. There needs to be more awareness of the symptoms," she said.
