Becky Small, a 33-year-old logistics manager and mother of three from Hampshire, was misdiagnosed twice by GPs before being diagnosed with stage four metastatic ovarian cancer. She experienced severe bloating that made her feel "nine months' pregnant" and was eventually diagnosed after attending A&E.
Initial Symptoms and Misdiagnoses
Becky first noticed severe bloating in her abdomen in April 2026, describing it as feeling "really hard" and uncomfortable, making it difficult to sleep. She also experienced pain on the right side of her back. She visited a GP on 27 April, who examined her abdomen and requested a urine test, which came back clear. He prescribed anti-inflammatory medication and advised the bloating would subside within a few days. However, Becky saw no improvement.
On 30 April, she sought a second opinion at a different surgery. She claims the GP did not carry out any tests and "didn't even feel" her stomach before prescribing medication for suspected gastroenteritis, an intestinal infection, and told her she would be "back to normal" within a week.
Emergency Diagnosis
By 5 May, Becky's abdomen had become "rock solid," and she took herself to A&E. Two doctors examined her properly and were shocked that no blood tests or CT scans had been performed earlier. That same evening, she was told that doctors had discovered two lesions on her ovaries and one on her kidney. Her immediate reaction was that she was "going to die."
Following a biopsy on 20 May, Becky received her diagnosis of stage four metastatic ovarian cancer on 1 June. She began chemotherapy just four days later on 5 June.
Impact on Family
Becky and her husband Paul, 34, have three children: Logan, 10, Harley, 8, and Iris, 4. They informed their two eldest children about the cancer diagnosis, describing it as "the hardest conversation" she has ever had. Iris is too young to understand what cancer means, but Becky worries about missing milestones: "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. I just want to be a mum to my kids and to be a wife to my husband."
Treatment and Prognosis
Becky has undergone two rounds of chemotherapy since 5 June and has not experienced any major side effects yet. She faces four more rounds due to be completed by September, along with a full hysterectomy in August. She does not wish to know her prognosis, preferring to "enjoy what time" she has left without worrying about not waking up.
Fundraising and Awareness
A fundraising campaign has been set up to provide financial support for Becky and her family during treatment. She said the donations will enable her family to make memories like "going to the park and having an ice cream." Becky believes ovarian cancer is "silent and deadly" and urges young women to be vigilant for symptoms and seek testing. She said: "I don't want other women or even my own daughter to have to go through what I'm going through."
