WOMAN DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER AFTER GP SAID SHE WAS OK

A BIRMINGHAM woman claimed her cancer symptoms were initially dismissed by a GP who reportedly told her there as nothing seriously wrong with her.

- ISABELLE BATES News Reporter

Carol Stirrop, a retired NHS secretary, first began to feel unwell in early 2023 but initially brushed off her symptoms of fatigue and diarrhoea as a stomach bug.

However, the 78-year-old lost nearly two stone and so sought out medical advice.

"I was losing weight at an alarming rate," Carol recalls. "Nearly two stone disappeared and I felt drained in a way rest simply couldn't fix."

Despite multiple visits to her GP, Carol's concerns were initially brushed aside. At one point, she was reportedly told 'you are really well, there is nothing seriously wrong with you.'

But her instincts told her otherwise and determined not to be ignored, Carol sought a second opinion. She was then sent for blood work, scans and eventually given the devastating diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

The disease is notoriously difficult to diagnose early and is often diagnosed at advanced stages.

Fortunately for Carol, the cancer had not yet spread to her liver, making surgery an option. In September 2023, she underwent the major Whipple's procedure at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham to remove the tumour.