Doctors in the UK have been forced to apologise to a 32-year-old woman after removing her womb, only to discover she didn't even have cancer.
Rhian Butlin first went to the doctors back in September of last year after suffering with severe abdominal pain.
She later got a scan and her symptoms were reportedly initially suspected to be polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) - a common condition that affects how a woman's ovaries work.
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As the pain persisted, Rhian later returned to hospital where she had another scan that revealed a 25cm tumour located on one of her ovaries.
Rhian was then diagnosed with ovarian cancer on her 32nd birthday, which led to her getting a hysterectomy - a surgical procedure to remove the womb (uterus) which means you can no longer get pregnant.
Her older sister, Lindsey Rice, explained in a GoFundMe post that Rhian 'had a build up of fluid that had to be drained prior to having a full hysterectomy'.
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Lindsey added that Rhian 'spent two weeks in hospital' and while having the fluid drained she contracted sepsis.
"She didn’t have a great time in while admitted," the concerned sister added. "She had a massive reaction as the infection from sepsis still wasn’t clear (this went unnoticed until then ) she was put in an induced coma."
When Rhian was finally well enough to undergo the hysterectomy op, she also had her appendix and the lining of her bowel removed.
During the procedure, the mum had biopsies done on all three organs and was later sent home to recover.
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However, two months later, she was called back into the hospital once again.
After receiving the biopsy results on her ovary, Lindsey explained that doctors issued an apology and told Rhian they had 'got it wrong' and suspected that she may have endometriosis, 'which commonly gives readings similar to cancer'.
"She didn’t have ovarian cancer... apparently they couldn’t locate it... so thought she must have colon cancer," Lindsey continued.
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After undergoing a colonoscopy, Lindsey claimed Rhian was ultimately given the 'all clear' - but she still 'didn't feel right'.
"We’re sorry, we’ve got it wrong," Lindsey recalled the doctors telling her sister. "You actually had appendix cancer."
While she'd had her appendix removed, the disease had already spread to her pelvis and lymph nodes and, within two months, it had developed into an 'aggressive' stage four cancer.
"I'm just emotionally drained," Rhian told MailOnline of her ordeal. "I'm constantly scared and some nights I barely sleep. It's just been a very scary journey, if I'm honest. Obviously, I've had a full hysterectomy when I did not need to.
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"I've had my ovaries removed when I did not have ovarian cancer and I've had the lining of my bowel removed when I did not have bowel cancer. Then they did remove my appendix in December but it wasn't until months later that they found cancer there."
Lindsey continued in the fundraiser post: "Rhian is a single mum. Works hard as a dental nurse. Her life has always revolved around her and her children. She’s everything to them. She brought them up from day one alone. And is an incredible mummy."
Now facing 'three months' of chemotherapy, the post adds that Rhian 'isn’t strong enough to do what she usually does' with her children.
"She’s everything to them. She brought them up from day one alone," Lindsey concluded, asking for donations to 'create a little pot' for the family for when Rhian recovers 'to help her take the kids away', 'to help put this dreadful nightmare behind them' and give the family 'something to look forward to'.
You can donate to the GoFundMe here.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.
Topics: Health, Real Life, True Life, Cancer, UK News, Women's Health
Rhiannon Ingle