Becky Small, a 33-year-old mother of three from Hampshire, was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic ovarian cancer after two general practitioners failed to identify the warning signs of her worsening symptoms. She is now sharing her story to urge other women to persist in seeking medical investigations.
Becky first noticed severe bloating in April, initially attributing it to her polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition she had managed since her teenage years. Within days, the swelling intensified to the point where she could no longer fit into her clothes, experienced difficulty sleeping, and found even rolling over in bed excruciatingly painful.
Initial GP visits dismissed symptoms
“My stomach was going really hard all the time,” Becky said. “I couldn't fit any trousers on and it was just really uncomfortable. I couldn't sleep and I couldn't even roll over in bed because it was so painful and so big.”
She also developed pain on the right side of her back and visited her GP on April 27. The doctor suspected inflammation, ordered a urine test, and prescribed anti-inflammatory medication. When the test came back clear and the medication failed to work, Becky sought a second opinion just days later. She claims the second GP neither examined her abdomen nor conducted any tests before diagnosing suspected gastroenteritis and prescribing medication.
Deterioration leads to A&E
Instead of improving, Becky's condition continued to deteriorate. By May 5, her stomach had become “rock solid.” “The only way to describe it was like I was nine months' pregnant,” she said. “I couldn't breathe or walk properly too.”
Fearing something was seriously wrong, Becky took herself to A&E, where doctors performed blood tests and a CT scan after expressing surprise that no investigations had been carried out earlier. “Two doctors actually examined me properly and were shocked that I hadn't had tests done,” she said.
Later that evening, Becky was told that scans had revealed two lesions on her ovaries and another on her kidney. “My three children are my world, so thinking that you're going to die is a horrible feeling,” she said.
Stage 4 cancer diagnosis and treatment
A biopsy confirmed stage 4 metastatic ovarian cancer, with the ovaries identified as the primary site. Becky received the diagnosis on June 1 and began chemotherapy four days later. She has since completed two rounds of treatment and will undergo another four cycles before a full hysterectomy scheduled for August.
Becky has chosen not to know her long-term prognosis, preferring to focus on spending time with her husband, Paul, and their children: Logan, 10; Harley, eight; and Iris, four. “My daughter starts school this year and that is the bit that scares me the most – that I'm not going to see her start school,” she said. “I just want to be a mum to my kids and to be a wife to my husband.”
NHS symptoms and warning
According to the NHS, the main symptoms of ovarian cancer include persistent bloating, abdominal or pelvic pain, loss of appetite, feeling full quickly, needing to urinate more often, and back pain. Becky believes she should have pushed harder for further investigations. “I think I probably should have pushed to have extra tests done,” she said. “If they had just run some more tests before, then I may be further along than where I am now. If I hadn't taken myself to A&E, then I probably wouldn't be here now.”
She is urging other women not to ignore persistent symptoms and to seek medical advice if they have concerns. “I don't want other women or even my own daughter to have to go through what I'm going through,” she said.
A fundraising campaign has been launched to support Becky and her family during her treatment, allowing them to spend precious time together.
