Woman, 25, dies 10 days after diagnosis first thought to be ‘chest infection’

A performer has tragically died just 10 days after receiving a cancer diagnosis, having initially mistaken her symptoms for a chest infection. Molly Jenner, 25, had been fit and healthy until she collapsed at home in April.

Following an emergency admission to York Hospital, a chest X-ray uncovered a 10cm mass in her chest, subsequently identified as a tumour caused by Lymphoma blood cancer. According to the NHS, Lymphoma is an uncommon form of cancer affecting the white blood cells responsible for fighting infection.

Six weeks before her devastating diagnosis, Molly, from York, had developed a persistent cough but assumed it was simply a bug contracted at work. Paying tribute to Molly, her fiancée Lily Monarch, 29, described the performer as “so optimistic and funny”.

Lily, who is a musician, said: “She had so much care to give. She lit up the life of every single person she came across.

“This was the first health thing she ever had. Up until this point, she never even needed a prescription for anything. I’m heartbroken, the circumstances kill me every time I think about them.”

The couple, both originally hailing from Leeds, relocated to York after studying in the city and had been in a relationship since January 2022, having first briefly met at one of Lily’s performances. Molly subsequently joined Lily on stage as part of her act, Monarkki, portraying Lily’s sidekick character, Widget.

The routine revolved around Molly only uttering “widget”, yet everyone on stage could comprehend her meaning. Lily said “it was everything” to perform alongside Molly.

Molly started experiencing symptoms in early April, initially believing she may have contracted a chest infection from her workplace at the Cat Gallery, in Low Petergate, York. However, on April 18 she collapsed and was transported by ambulance to York Hospital.

A chest X-ray uncovered a substantial mass on her chest. Throughout the following six weeks, she underwent multiple biopsies, which, according to Lily, repeatedly returned as “inconclusive”.

She said: “She couldn’t lie down due to the mass impacting her breathing and making her cough uncontrollably.”

Devastatingly, on May 21, she received a cancer diagnosis and arrangements were put in place for her to commence chemotherapy on June 1.

Lily said: “She took the news quite well she was upset at first, when I got called to the hospital the day she got the diagnosis she was in a side room and she cried in my arms. But after getting the emotion out we started to form a plan on how she was going to beat the cancer as we were always a couple that balanced each other out during times of adversity. After that she had this truly inspirational determination to beat the cancer and she wasn’t going to let it hold her back.”

However, heartbreakingly, 10 days later, on May 31, she died. It was the day before she was scheduled to begin chemotherapy.

The couple were influenced by Finnish music, particularly the nation’s 2023 Eurovision entry, Käärijä, and had aspirations of journeying to Finland to perform there this year. “It just felt right having her by my side,” Lily said of Molly.

“We were getting ready to go over to Finland and just have this adventure of a lifetime together.”

Lily described Molly as being “very interested in celebrity culture” and someone who “adored Taylor Swift”.

Lily said: “I could talk to her about various things I was doing or things I wanted to do in shows that would evoke emotions in the audience and she just understood. I feel she was the only person I could really talk to about that, who really understood.”

Lily revealed that Molly had been the primary breadwinner for their household. Currently unemployed while pursuing work in the creative sector as a social media manager, video editor or stage manager, Lily admitted she has been unable to secure a position.

She said Molly’s passing has left her “in ruins” financially, prompting her to launch a GoFundMe page to help “rebuild her life”. At the time of writing, more than £2,870 had been raised towards the £3,300 target.

Lily said: “I’m overwhelmed by the support that I’ve been shown on social media and on the GoFundMe page already. I think that just goes to show the many people whose lives were lit up by Molly – everyone loved her.”