Doctors almost mistook tumour the size of a rugby ball for period pain

A MUM is calling for children to be tested for ovarian cancer after her 14-year-old daughter’s rugby ball-sized tumour was almost mistaken for period pain.

- By LAURA SHARMAN

Izzy Pickering was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in April when doctors discovered a large tumour with a stem in her ovary.

Currently, there is no national screening programme for the disease, which is responsible for 7,500 new cases per year in the UK and mostly affects women over 50, according to the NHS.

Doctors initially thought Izzy, from Sawley, could have appendicitis or period pain when she went to A&E with back pain, stomach aches and vomiting in November.

But on her second visit to the emergency room, parents Lisa Pickering, 52, and Wayne Pickering, 51, insisted on more tests which revealed the stage two cancer.

Doctors removed the tumour and are now hopeful that Izzy will beat the disease with chemotherapy thanks to an early diagnosis.

"You hear of children with leukaemia but you don’t hear of young girls with ovarian cancer," Lisa told PA Real Life.

"We want to get the word out that ovarian cancer can affect girls as young as 14 and not to take symptoms for granted.

"Children should have access to screening from when they start their period.

"They should not have to wait until they are sexually active as this is proof you don’t have to be to get cancer in that area."

Izzy, who loves singing, acting and theatre, started to feel unwell in November when she was struck with a severe stomach ache, back pain and began vomiting.