A young mother died of cancer just weeks after mistakenly believing she was pregnant.
Fiona Gallacher, from Holytown in North Lanarkshire, suffered severe stomach pains, bloating and vomiting for two months.
After a pregnancy test came back negative in January, the 33-year-old visited the ER.
Test results days later revealed that he was suffering from Stage four adenocarcinoma, an aggressive cancer of the glands that secrete mucus.
Doctors originally gave her six months to a year to live when Ms Gallacher was diagnosed in January.
Fiona Gallacher, from Holytown in North Lanarkshire, suffered severe stomach pains, bloating and vomiting for two months. After a pregnancy test came back negative in January, the 33-year-old visited the ER.
Test results days later revealed that he had stage four adenocarcinoma, an aggressive cancer of the glands that secrete mucus. Doctors originally gave her six months to a year to live when Ms Gallacher was diagnosed in January. Pictured is Fiona, left, with her sister Kellyann.
He died just 11 weeks later, on March 22.
His family and friends are now urging people to get their health checked and not ignore any worrying symptoms.
Her heartbroken sister Kellyann told the Daily entry: ‘Fiona began to experience severe stomach pains, but put it down to simply not feeling well.
“Suddenly her stomach bloated and she couldn’t keep anything down. At first she thought she was pregnant because of how she felt.”
“I was so swollen it looked like I was pregnant.”
The 37-year-old added: “Days later, we were told he had cancer and didn’t have much time left.” “It was such a shock to all of us that it didn’t feel real.”
Adenocarcinoma, nicknamed the “cancer of cavities,” is often only discovered during tests or treatments for other diseases.
It accounts for about 90 percent of all kidney and bowel cancers, 85 percent of lung cancers and a quarter of all cervical cancers, according to the Cancer Council, an Australian advice website.
It is also responsible for most breast, prostate and stomach cancers.
Because cancer can occur in various areas of the body, there is no single list of symptoms of the disease and it will depend on the organ affected.
Some patients may also not experience any signs until the cancer is more advanced.
Adenocarcinoma, nicknamed the “cancer of cavities,” is often only discovered during tests or treatments for other diseases. It accounts for about 90 percent of all kidney and bowel cancers, 85 percent of lung cancers and a quarter of all cervical cancers, according to the Cancer Council, an Australian advice site.
Gallacher’s family was shocked by his sudden death. His other sister, Sarahann, moved into the family home to care for her children: Graham Hastie, 16, Kevin Hastie, 15, Emmaleigh Goldie, seven, and Charlie-May Mcfarlane, three. . In the photo, Fiona, far right.
Depending on where the tumor is and its size, treatment options may include surgical removal, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy.
Gallacher’s family was shocked by his sudden death.
Her other sister, Sarahann, moved into the family home to look after her children: Graham Hastie, 16, Kevin Hastie, 15, Emmaleigh Goldie, seven, and Charlie-May Mcfarlane, three.
TO GoFundMe A page has also been started in memory of the mother, to help cover the costs of her funeral. She has raised almost £2,000 in just three days.
Mrs. Gallacherd: ‘Fiona said that on the day of her funeral she wants all the children to go and do something fun once they say their last goodbyes.’
Her family and friends are urging people to have regular medical checks and not ignore symptoms, in light of how Fiona’s health suddenly deteriorated.
Gallacher added: “We all minimize our symptoms and always think it will never be you, but it’s not worth taking that risk.”
‘I urge anyone experiencing abnormal stomach pains not to think twice before getting checked.
“Don’t leave it to the last minute – get it checked by your GP as soon as possible.”