A young woman from Surrey has revealed her devastating journey after symptoms she was told were food intolerances and irritable bowel syndrome turned out to be an incurable form of cancer. Lauren Carey, 30, from Banstead, is now facing what could be her final years after a rare and aggressive bladder cancer spread throughout her body.
A Lifelong Medical Journey
Lauren's health challenges began at birth. She was born with a rare condition called bladder exstrophy, where the bladder develops outside the body in the womb. This occurs when the skin over the lower abdomen fails to form properly. The condition led to multiple operations in her early childhood, and by the age of just eight, she required a permanent urinary catheter.
In 2022, this long-term medical management took a tragic turn. Lauren was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder—a rare but aggressive cancer strongly associated with chronic catheter use and repeated infections. Surgeons acted swiftly, removing her bladder and creating a stoma, a new opening for urine to pass, in the hope of stopping the cancer in its tracks.
Dismissed Symptoms and a Devastating Return
Lauren's sister, Megan, 28, is now speaking out about how her sister's concerns were initially dismissed. When Lauren first experienced problems, including nausea and abdominal pain, doctors suggested urinary tract infections (UTIs) or food intolerances like dairy. "Every time she called the doctors, they wouldn't even see her, they would just put her on antibiotics and say it was a UTI," Megan recalled.
Despite pushing for answers, Lauren was told her bloating, fatigue, and sickness were likely due to IBS. The truth only emerged after she found a lump on her stomach. Even that was initially dismissed as an infection. Shockingly, Lauren discovered the severity of her situation via the NHS app, which showed she was being referred to palliative care for cancer.
In November 2023, the family received the crushing news: the cancer had not only returned but had spread to her pelvis and abdomen, making it incurable. Both NHS and private hospitals have confirmed no viable treatment options remain that wouldn't cause fatal organ damage or immune system strain.
A Plea for Advocacy and a Race for Memories
Megan feels her sister was profoundly let down by a system that did not take her history seriously. The family was never informed that long-term catheter use could increase bladder cancer risk. "The doctors could definitely have done better," Megan stated. "So please, if something does not feel right with your body, just push and push, don't let the doctors fob you off."
With treatment options exhausted, the focus has shifted to fulfilling Lauren's dreams. A fundraiser has been launched to help her complete a bucket list, with a top wish to stay at Port Lympne Safari Park surrounded by animals. "She has never wanted children, her animals are her children," Megan explained.
In response, a spokesperson for Modality East Surrey Medical Practice said: "We are truly sorry for what they are going through... If Ms Carey or her family have any questions... the practice would gently encourage them to get in touch."
Around 21,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with bladder cancer each year. While often curable if caught early, advanced cases that spread are typically incurable. However, a new combination drug therapy for advanced bladder cancer, announced for NHS use in August 2024, offers hope for some future patients, potentially doubling life expectancy for around 1,250 people a year.
