Doctors forced to apologize after 32 year old woman given hysterectomy to treat 'tumor on her ovary' but biopsy showed no signs of cancer
Medical professionals in Britain offered their regrets to Rhian Butlin, 32, who had her womb removed before discovering the supposed "growth" on her ovaries was actually benign.
Rhian received her cancer diagnosis on her 32nd birthday, but for several weeks, physicians misidentified the type of malignancy she had. Her struggles began in September 2024 when she visited her physician complaining of intense stomach discomfort. After examination, doctors initially suspected polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). When her pain continued and her abdomen began to enlarge, Rhian went back to the hospital where scans revealed a 25cm growth on one ovary.
In a statement on a fundraising page, Rhian's elder sister Lindsey Rice described the difficult experiences Rhian endured before the womb removal surgery meant to extract the growth. She suffered from fluid retention requiring drainage, developed sepsis, and was placed in an induced coma.
After recovering enough strength for the operation, surgeons also extracted her appendix and bowel lining. During the procedure, doctors took tissue samples from all three organs. Rhian went home to heal, but received a hospital summons two months later.
Upon reviewing her ovarian biopsy results, physicians apologized and admitted their mistake. They believed Rhian might have endometriosis, a condition that can sometimes appear similar to cancer in medical imaging.
"The ovarian cancer diagnosis was incorrect... they couldn't find it... so they thought she must have colon cancer," Lindsey explained.
Following a colonoscopy, Lindsey stated that Rhian supposedly received a "clean bill of health" - though she still "felt unwell." Just 24 hours later, Rhian contacted her physician and discovered she actually had appendiceal cancer.
Despite having her appendix removed, the disease had already spread to her pelvic area and lymph nodes. Within two months, it progressed to an "aggressive" stage four cancer.
Speaking to MailOnline about her ordeal, Rhian shared: "I'm emotionally exhausted. I live in constant fear and often can't sleep at night. This journey has been truly frightening, honestly. Obviously, I've undergone a complete hysterectomy unnecessarily.
"My ovaries were removed when I didn't have ovarian cancer, and I had my bowel lining extracted when I didn't have bowel cancer."
"They did remove my appendix in December, but the cancer there wasn't discovered until months afterward," Rhian explained.
As a single mother, Rhian now faces an extended period of chemotherapy treatment. The fundraising page details how she "lacks sufficient strength to perform her usual activities" with her children.
"She means everything to her kids. She raised them by herself from the beginning," the post states. Lindsey has requested financial contributions to establish a small fund for the family, hoping they can use it to create lasting memories together.
