The family of a woman who alleges her rare and aggressive cancer was twice overlooked by doctors is encouraging others to persist when they feel something isn’t right. Lauren Carey, 30, is attempting to tick off her ‘bucket list’ after discovering her condition – squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder – is incurable.
Her sister Megan Carey, 28, is now urging those uncertain about their health diagnoses to seek a second, third or even fourth opinion – after Lauren was initially “dismissed”.
She said: “The doctors could definitely have done better. They have been awful. Lauren wanted to complain, but it is not worth it now because it takes years and she won’t be here to see the outcome. If something is not right with your body just push and push, don’t let the doctors fob you off.”
Lauren, a former supermarket duty manager from Banstead, Surrey, was born with a rare condition called bladder exstrophy, which meant her bladder formed outside of her body. The condition was corrected, but her bladder continued to release on its own and, at just eight years old, she underwent her first major surgery to fit a catheter, which she has been using ever since.
Three years ago, Lauren was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder – a rare and aggressive cancer caused by her long-term catheter use. Surgeons removed her bladder and replaced it with a stoma, and the family were reassured that this surgery would prevent the cancer from spreading. However, last month, the family received devastating news that the cancer had returned and spread to her pelvis and abdomen, with no treatment options available.
Megan said: “It was sort of like she was dairy intolerant, every time she would eat certain food it would make her sick. The doctors just dismissed her and said it was IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).
“She didn’t believe it. She didn’t feel unwell at this point, so she didn’t believe it was cancer. Eventually they did a biopsy, which revealed that it is.
“It was awful to hear. We were devastated. They said from the start that if this cancer returned there was nothing they could do.
“Now we are just trying to make memories with her. I have done a lot of research on it and it is a fast-spreading cancer.”
Megan, who lives in Horley, claims her sister’s symptoms were repeatedly dismissed by medical professionals who misdiagnosed her cancer on both occasions. Initially, doctors attributed it to a UTI, and the second time they suspected a food intolerance or IBS.
Subsequently, a lump discovered on her stomach was identified as a pocket of infection, before the sisters learnt through the NHS app that Lauren was being referred to palliative care for cancer. Both NHS and private hospitals have informed the family that treatment is not possible, as surgery would damage her organs and other treatments would compromise her immune system.
Megan says she doesn’t know how much time her sister has left, so they are determined to create as many memories as possible. She is also urging others to persist when they know something is wrong, as she claims Lauren was sent home with antibiotics on numerous occasions.
She said: “My mum was never told that the catheter could cause cancer. I think it was a new thing, so they didn’t even know the risks then.
“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. We had to keep pushing and pushing.”
Megan has now launched a fundraiser to help Lauren fulfil her dreams as they prepare for what could be her final years. Top of the bucket list is making it to Lauren’s nephews’ birthday Butlins trip in December, staying in the Port Lympne safari park animal lodges and seeing singer Dermot Kennedy perform live.
A GoFundMe page has already raised over £1,000, which Megan says is incredible, although it still falls short of covering the £1,000+ per night luxury lodges.
The mum-of-one said: “My sister is like my only friend. She is the only person I speak to.
“She has always loved animals and is desperate to go to Port Lympne and stay in the lodges where you can have the animals come up to the window. She really wants to go there so that is what we are trying to aim for. She has never wanted children, her animals are her children.
“I was very shocked when people started donating. When I told her that I started the GoFundMe she said ‘no one is going to donate for me.’ So, for her to see that people do actually care has been so nice.”
A representative for Modality East Surrey Medical Practice, which manages Lauren’s GP Birchwood Medical Practice, said: “As a practice, we have provided care for Ms Carey and her family and we will continue to support them during this very difficult time. We are truly sorry for what they are going through and our thoughts remain with them. If Ms Carey or her family have any questions or worries about the care they have received, the practice would gently encourage them to get in touch so that staff can listen, understand, and offer further help.”
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
