Swollen tummy turned out to be ovarian cancer

TEACHER is urging others to trust their instincts and seek medical advice at the first sign of unusual symptoms after her own delayed visit to the GP led to a stage four cancer diagnosis.

- BY PAUL ATKINS

Sharon Withington, 54, is a PE teacher at Stockport Grammar School.

She first noticed a slightly swollen stomach in April 2024 but assumed it was weight gain. Fit, active, and eating healthily, she didn’t think much of it.

It wasn’t until September - five months later - when she began leaking urine that she went to her GP. Suspecting a urinary tract infection, Sharon was prescribed antibiotics, but the issue persisted.

After a second round of antibiotics also had no impact, she vowed to go back to her GP after a half-term adventure holiday with her students.

Sharon said: “I looked down and my stomach had grown massively.

“As a PE teacher, I knew I ate well and exercised regularly, so I knew this wasn’t normal.”

Sharon was quickly referred for an ultrasound and blood tests.

By November, a biopsy confirmed she had ovarian cancer, which had spread to her liver.