A 32-year-old mother from the UK, Rhian Butlin, is now undergoing treatment for aggressive stage 4 appendix cancer—after previously being misdiagnosed with ovarian cancer and undergoing a major surgery she may not have needed.
Rhian first sought medical help in September 2024 due to intense abdominal pain. Initially, doctors suspected polycystic ovary syndrome. But as her condition worsened and her stomach swelled, a scan later revealed a 25-centimeter mass on her ovary.
She underwent surgery intended to remove the suspected tumor and, as part of the procedure, doctors also removed her appendix and the lining of her bowel. Post-surgery, she spent time in critical care, battling complications like sepsis and needing an induced coma.
Two months later, Rhian was called back to the hospital to receive the biopsy results. Doctors admitted they had made a mistake—what was believed to be ovarian cancer turned out not to be cancer at all. It was later suspected she may have endometriosis, a condition that can mimic cancer on scans.
Despite the initial relief, Rhian continued to feel unwell. She pushed for further testing and was eventually diagnosed with cancer in her appendix. By then, the disease had already progressed to her pelvis and lymph nodes.
Now facing months of chemotherapy, Rhian—also a single mother—has been left emotionally and physically drained. A GoFundMe was launched to support her and her children during this challenging time, with her sister Lindsey describing her as “everything to her kids” and encouraging donations to help them make meaningful memories together.