A mum-of-three was diagnosed with cancer after doctors said she was ‘healthy and too young’ to be sick

A mother-of-three is devastated after doctors dismissed her cancer symptoms as a hernia – because she was “healthy and young” to be seriously ill.

Lydia Southam visited her doctor ten times complaining of heavy periods, stomach cramps, constipation and frequent urination – but says her worries were allayed.

The 37-year-old, from Stratford-upon-Avon, Warks., was only sent for an emergency check-up two years later after a female doctor noticed “something was wrong”.

Lydia was transferred to Warwick Hospital in June 2023 and diagnosed with Stage 4 low-grade ovarian cancer (LGSOC).

He said: “I believed them recklessly, I was fit and healthy.

“As a woman, you are only told that if you face these symptoms, you should pass, because the Doctor didn’t care and I didn’t care.

“The potential outcome would have been really bad for me.”

Lydia first expressed concern in 2021 after noticing changes in her body.

He said: “I have always had a problem with difficult times but they were difficult at that time.

“I first went in to see a doctor about it but I was kicked out.”

During pregnancy, her pain worsened but her anxiety was relieved.

He went on to say: “When I was pregnant, there was a lump in my stomach that they said was due to pregnancy.”

“I went in very hurt and I felt like the child had no place, I was saying it didn’t sound like it had no place to move.

“After that I had symptoms, like frequent urination, pain and constipation.

“I had those symptoms but I didn’t see those symptoms right away.”

Months later, strange symptoms appeared but Lydia says they were re-diagnosed.

He said: “Soon after another six months I had spots that turned on the right side of my stomach.

“Then I went back inside and found a hernia-like lump in my stomach, they just told me it was a hernia, they didn’t scan, and they booked me for surgery.

Although she found other lumps, she says the doctors continued to reassure her.

He continued: “Then I went back inside and found a lump on my hip. Something was wrong and I realized that something was wrong and I ended up going in ten times.”

“I finally went back to the doctor but this time I was with a female doctor who saw that something was wrong.

Lydia pushed for further investigations after being repeatedly told that ovarian cancer was unlikely.

She said: “They say that ovarian cancer happens to older women and that I was too young and I deserved it, but I wanted to continue the investigation.

“I saw a doctor who re-examined those lumps.

“It turned out that it was at the lower level of stage 4b, so it has improved a lot.

“It was bad to be honest.

“My first thought was that I have to be here to help my children.

After being told that surgery might not remove all the cancer, Lydia chose to go to a private hospital in London.

He said: “We found a specialist surgeon.

“He did a full uterus, my spleen, part of my intestine, part of my belly button, part of my diaphragm, it was a very extreme operation.

“The way it was explained was that it spread far and wide, as if the seeds had been sprinkled everywhere.

“It was over a lot of organs but the surgeon was able to get it all.”

When she was allowed to go home, Lydia underwent intensive chemotherapy sessions until she was considered in remission.

Lydia is now on a campaign to raise awareness of LGSOC, a rare form of ovarian cancer that usually affects women between the ages of 40 and 60.

She teamed up with a charity to celebrate World Ovarian Cancer Day and even appeared on a billboard in Piccadilly Circus.

He went on to say: “It was strange to see myself at the top because you saw Jude Law and all these other famous celebrities and then I came up.

“It was a big thing, dealing with self-identity and the scar. It gives me strength to know that I’m helping others.”