A young woman from Surrey whose cancer symptoms were twice dismissed as irritable bowel syndrome is now urging others to persistently seek second opinions when they know something is wrong with their bodies.
From IBS Diagnosis to Terminal Cancer
Lauren Carey, 30, from Banstead, is currently working through her bucket list after receiving the devastating news that her squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder - a rare and aggressive cancer - has spread and is incurable.
Her sister, Megan Carey, 28, is speaking out to encourage anyone uncertain about their health diagnosis to seek multiple medical opinions, following Lauren's repeated dismissal by healthcare professionals who initially attributed her symptoms to food intolerance and IBS.
"The doctors could definitely have done better," Megan stated. "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."
A Lifetime of Medical Challenges
Lauren was born with a rare condition called bladder exstrophy, which caused her bladder to form outside her body. The former supermarket duty manager underwent major surgery at eight years old to fit a catheter, which she has used ever since.
Three years ago, she was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder, a rare and aggressive cancer linked to her long-term catheter use. Despite having her bladder removed and replaced with a stoma, the cancer has since returned and spread to her pelvis and abdomen.
Megan explained how her sister's symptoms were consistently overlooked: "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."
The Importance of Medical Advocacy
Megan, who lives in Horley, revealed that medical professionals misdiagnosed her sister's cancer on multiple occasions - initially brushing off symptoms as a UTI, then later suspecting food intolerance or IBS.
"Every time she called the doctors, they wouldn't even see her," Megan recalled. "They would just put her on antibiotics and say it was a UTI. We had to keep pushing and pushing."
The family discovered the severity of Lauren's condition through the NHS app, which showed she was being referred for palliative care due to cancer. Both NHS and private hospitals have informed the family that no treatment options remain available.
Megan emphasised the importance of persistence: "If something is not right with your body just push and push, don't let the doctors fob you off."
Creating Precious Memories
With uncertainty about how much time Lauren has left, the family is focused on creating as many precious memories as possible. Megan has launched a fundraiser to help fulfil her sister's dreams during what could be her final years.
Priority bucket list items include attending her nephews' birthday Butlins trip in December, staying in the luxury animal lodges at Port Lympne safari park, and seeing singer Dermot Kennedy perform live.
The GoFundMe page has already exceeded £1,000, though it still falls short of covering the £1,000+ per night cost for the safari park lodges Lauren desperately wants to experience.
"My sister is like my only friend," Megan shared. "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."
A spokesperson for Modality East Surrey Medical Practice, which runs Lauren's GP 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."
