A woman has come forward with her story of being misdiagnosed with IBS when she actually had stage four ovarian cancer. Cydnie Malone shared that she began having symptoms like rib pain, bloating, and nausea in July 2023. Her bloating was so severe that she appeared pregnant, and her stomach would make unusual movements and sounds.
Despite a blood test showing elevated levels of the ovarian cancer marker CA-125, Cydnie was told she had IBS and polycystic ovary syndrome. She visited various hospitals over two years, but her symptoms were dismissed, even as her CA-125 levels continued to rise. Finally, in April 2025, after her belly kept expanding, Cydnie was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer.
Following the diagnosis, Cydnie underwent surgery to remove 15 tumors and had a hysterectomy. After six rounds of chemotherapy, she received news of being in remission. Cydnie believes that her cancer could have been caught earlier if she had been taken seriously by medical professionals.
She is now advocating for others to be proactive about their health and not ignore symptoms. Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed late, but early detection can greatly improve outcomes. Treatment options include surgery and chemotherapy. The Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust expressed regret over Cydnie’s experience and promised to investigate the matter further.
