'I dismissed pain as a stitch before disease took everything'
A mum was diagnosed with incurable ovarian cancer after initially mistaking her discomfort for a "stitch". Nikki Farrington, 46, began to suffer from heavier periods and a " sharp pain" in her side and stomach around March 2023.
The mother-of-one, who served as a neonatal nurse at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton, attributed the pain to long hours spent on her feet, thinking it was just a "stitch". However, after undergoing a scan at her workplace, she was first informed that she had a 'chocolate cyst' – an ovarian cyst typically filled with old blood and endometrial tissue, often harmless.
Subsequent blood tests, however, showed her tumour markers were "elevated", suggesting the presence of cancer cells near the cyst. In March 2023, Nikki received a diagnosis of low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC), which is an uncommon and slow-growing form of the disease.
She had surgery in June 2023, where doctors found the cancer had spread, leading to a full hysterectomy, removal of two-thirds of her stomach, and a significant portion of her colon. Following several rounds of chemotherapy, Nikki and her husband Ian, 49, an operations coordinator, were cautiously optimistic upon hearing she had "no sign of disease" in May 2024.
Yet, Nikki's condition deteriorated as she battled "crippling pain" in her abdomen and bouts of vomiting. It was later revealed by doctors that a bowel obstruction was due to the cancer, which had been progressively worsening and is now deemed incurable.
Nikki and Ian, who live with their nine-year-old son Jake, are now urgently fundraising for private, alternative treatment after being informed that the NHS has no further options available.
The mother, currently unable to work and living in Willenhall, Wolverhampton, said: "The disease takes everything from you. My quality of life isn't great.
"As a parent, you always come last and you don't worry about yourself. If I had gone when I first noticed issues with my period, maybe things would be different."
Nikki was instrumental in establishing the first bereavement service within the West Midlands NHS trust, providing care and support to families in mourning. Initially, she "dismissed" changes in her menstrual cycle but became alarmed when she experienced a persistent "stitch-like" pain in her side.
Upon experiencing worsening pain, Nikki visited A&E at her workplace, where she underwent an MRI scan and blood tests. She was diagnosed with 'chocolate cysts' on her right ovary.
Despite initial reassurances from medical professionals "not to worry" concern was raised by another consultant at her workplace following her scan results. A subsequent blood test showed her tumour markers were "elevated," suggesting the presence of cancer cells around the cyst. In March 2023, Nikki received a diagnosis of low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC).
She said: "I was told it was slow-moving, so I felt more reassured. But we didn't know how far it had spread until surgery."
The surgery, which took place in June 2023, was a gruelling nine-hour procedure where surgeons meticulously removed all the cancerous tissue they discovered. Nikki underwent an extensive operation that included a full hysterectomy and the removal of parts of her liver, diaphragm, intestine, and pelvic wall.
Additionally, she had sections of her stomach and colon taken out, and doctors constructed a stoma to allow bodily waste to leave her system externally.
Nikki said: "I woke up and felt panic. I had been prepared for the worst, but it was still a shock waking up. But I felt hopeful they had got it."
After starting chemotherapy in September 2023, Nikki joyfully received the news that she was "cancer-free" by May 2024. However, her health took a turn for the worse in the following months.
She found herself hospitalised around eight times due to pain and vomiting, and frustratingly, her symptoms were often dismissed as mere "constipation". A subsequent operation in August 2024 revealed a bowel blockage, which turned out to be cancer that had metastasised to other organs.
Faced with the devastating news that there was "nothing more" the doctors could do, Nikki began palliative chemotherapy under the care of a new consultant. The couple has since embarked on a fundraising mission, hoping to secure alternative private treatment to extend Nikki's life.
Nikki said: "I think routine blood tests for women to check for CA125 - a protein marker that indicates ovarian cancer - should be introduced. Ovarian cancer is a 'silent killer', but a simple blood test could save a life.
"Don't ignore symptoms and you have the right to ask for a second opinion - don't just go with what you're told if something doesn't sit right. I can't work and Ian is now my full-time carer - any money would go towards helping us financially too."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
A&E waits fuel 4,000 attacks on NHS staff a year: One worker is attacked every two hours in 'tinder box' hospitals as nurses face violence and gun threats
NHS staff are facing 'utterly abhorrent' levels of violence in A&E – with one worker attacked every two hours, damning figures reveal today. Middle-class patients and their families are among those driven to rage by long waits and dehumanising care in corridors, the Royal College of Nursing said. It warned that its members were physically and mentally scarred after being punched, spat at – and even threatened with guns. Many have been forced to take time off to recover, with some too traumatised to return. The nurses' union warned that the Government's ten-year plan to reform the Health Service will 'fail completely' without action to protect and retain staff. In all, 89 hospital trusts responded to a Freedom of Information request from the RCN, revealing that they recorded 4,054 reports of physical violence against A&E staff last year – almost double the 2,093 in 2019. It means 11 members of A&E staff are attacked on average every day in England. However, the true figure is likely to be even higher as just 69 per cent of NHS acute trusts responded to the RCN, and they were only asked for figures for their biggest A&E. Meanwhile, a separate analysis by the RCN shows that incidents of patients having to wait more than 12 hours in A&E increased 20-fold between 2019 and 2024. The news comes as: Nine in ten pharmacies are victims of shoplifting, with strong painkillers among the drugs being targeted. Victims' minister Alex Davies-Jones admitted shoplifting had 'got out of hand' after police ordered a store to remove a sign calling thieves 'scumbags'. Sarah Pochin, Reform UK's only female MP, said it was 'no surprise' that vigilante groups were patrolling the streets as immigration led to fears for women's safety. Rachelle McCarthy, a senior charge nurse from the East Midlands, was punched 'square in the face' by a 'drunk, 6ft 2in bloke'. She said: 'Even patients you would expect to be placid are becoming irate because of just how long they have to wait. You can only imagine the behaviour of those who are already prone to violence.' A senior A&E nurse based in east London said her hospital was a 'tinder box' for violence. She has seen colleagues punched, kicked and had a gun pointed at them, while she had been spat at by a patient and threatened with an acid attack. She said she became depressed and anxious and took a research role to take a break from nursing, adding: 'The violence I saw made me become more fearful outside work. I saw how volatile people can be.' Sarah Pochin (pictured), Reform UK's only female MP, said it was 'no surprise' that vigilante groups were patrolling the streets as immigration led to fears for women's safety A senior A&E nurse in the South West said a patient 'pinned a nurse up against a wall' and another punched a member of staff 'in the groin and stomach'. She added: 'It's not going to help with our retention and recruitment if you think you're going to be clobbered every shift.' Sarah Tappy, a senior A&E sister in east London, was punched in the head and knocked unconscious by a patient, leaving her with anxiety and PTSD. 'The violence is awful,' she said. 'And it's just constant. None of us feel safe.' At Maidstone Hospital in Kent, incidents rose by more than 500 per cent, from 13 in 2019 to 89 in 2024, while at Manchester Royal Infirmary, attacks rose from 39 to 79. In April, Health Secretary Wes Streeting pledged to 'keep NHS staff safe' by implementing mandatory hospital-level reporting of violence against staff, saying that 'protecting staff from violence is not an optional extra'. However, the RCN says the Government 'needs to do more than just record the shocking levels of violence'. Professor Nicola Ranger, RCN general secretary, said: 'Behind these shocking figures lies an ugly truth. Dedicated and hard-working staff face rising attacks because of systemic failures that are no fault of their own. Nursing staff not only go to work underpaid and undervalued but face a rising tide of violence. It leads to physical and mental scarring, lengthy time off and sometimes staff never returning. 'You can't fix the Health Service when vital staff are too scared to go into work. 'Unless the Government does something about lengthy waits, corridor care and understaffed nursing teams, more staff will become victims of this utterly abhorrent behaviour. Left unaddressed, this could see plans to reform the NHS fail.' Daniel Elkeles, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents trusts said: 'These findings are absolutely shocking.' Rebecca Smith, of NHS Employers, said: 'No one should have to face violence at work – it is totally unacceptable.' Mr Streeting said: 'I am appalled. Nurses dedicate their lives to helping others and deserve to go about their jobs free from violence. Anyone who violates this core principle will feel the full force of the law.'
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Fury as Glasgow city council shell out ‘shocking' £5K for needle bins outside controversial fix room
BIN THE MONEY Fury as Glasgow city council shell out 'shocking' £5K for needle bins outside controversial fix room Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) COUNCIL chiefs have come under fire for spending £5,000 on two needle bins outside the UK's first 'fix' room. Glasgow City Alcohol and Drugs Partnership, which also involves cops and the NHS, funded the bins beside The Thistle in Calton. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 The council has paid £5k for needle drop bins Credit: John Kirkby 4 There is drug debris dropped near the bins Credit: John Kirkby Critics claim they will make the area more of a 'warzone' — and do nothing to help addicts amid a surge in drugs deaths. Annie Wells, drugs spokeswoman for the Scottish Tories, said residents will be shocked at the 'astonishing' sum spent on the bins. 'Local residents will be shocked to hear the SNP-led council shelled out £5,000 on these two needle bins. 'Despite the astonishing sum spent, they are doing little to help those living near The Thistle, who are having to put themselves in harm's way to pick up dirty needles. 'This project isn't helping those with addiction. The focus must shift from facilitating drug-taking to treating addiction.' We told how residents hit out in March at flyers urging more addicts to use The Thistle - amid claims the community had been turned into a 'warzone'. Ex-council worker Vanessa Paton said in May: 'It is getting worse. The new room has appeared, and the problems have escalated with it. It's a no-go warzone every day and night.' Resident Angela Scott added: 'I'm scared that if I am picking up my dog's dirt, am I going to prick a needle?' One local said previously: 'Problems have escalated since the new room appeared. It's a no-go warzone every day and night.' Figures show Scotland had 312 suspected substance- related fatalities in the three months to May 25 — one of the deadliest spells in a decade. A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said last night: 'We know discarded needles cause concern and it has been a long-standing issue in Calton and surrounding areas. Inside UK's first drug consumption room with relaxation lounge days before opening 'The installation of two bins followed a successful pilot initiative in the city centre and money was made available by the Alcohol and Drug Partnership for additional bins in other areas. 'Evaluation of the pilot indicated high usage rates, favourable feedback from local businesses, and a positive impact on the local environment.' The authority said there had been 'over 3,600 injecting episodes' since the unit opened in January 4 Locals have raised concerns over drug paraphernalia being dumped nearby Credit: Tom Farmer
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Fat cat vet firms preying on owners to push up profits as they face 5-figure bills & minutes to decide to put pets down
Behind the practice names, the real owner of your local vet may surprise you PET CRISIS Fat cat vet firms preying on owners to push up profits as they face 5-figure bills & minutes to decide to put pets down Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FACING an astronomical £18,500 vet bill, Charley Marvin had just moments to decide whether her beloved French bull dog would live or die. The bank worker had already spent nearly £5,000 after being told Hank, four, had intervertebral disc disease, which can cause paralysis. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Charley Marvin faced vet bills of £18,500 for her French bulldog Hank Credit: Supplied But just as she was preparing to take him home to start medication, she was told he actually needed expensive surgery. Worse still, Charley was warned she should 'act now' as the next day was a bank holiday, giving her little time to make an informed choice for her precious pooch. Sadly, the 33-year-old, from Essex, is not the only pet owner to face a horrific decision like this. People across the UK are facing skyrocketing vet bills — with many claiming 'care went down and prices went up' due to giant companies monopolising the market. Over the last decade alone, six 'fat cat' firms have bought over a bumper 60 per cent of practices, up from 10 per cent in 2013 — a scandal that has sent shockwaves all the way to Whitehall. The Competition And Markets Authority has launched a formal investigation into the £2billion industry amid fears animal lovers are being taken for a ride. Their initial report found that some vet bills increased by up to 70 per cent between 2016 and 2023. For the 16.2million animal caregivers in the UK like Charley, a potential crackdown is long overdue. Now, an investigation by The Sun has revealed a stark decline in the quality of care for animals while a corporate empire blossoms. In April, Charley rushed Hank to an emergency vet, where they first suspected IVDD. 5 crucial pet safety tips every dog owner should know He had an MRI under general anaesthetic at a practice owned by Linnaeus — one of the veterinary industry's Big Six, along with Pets At Home, CVS Group, IVC, VetPartners and Medivet. Charley was told they would make a decision on whether to put Hank on medication or operate after his MRI. In a later call, meds were agreed upon. However, no sooner had Charley arrived at the clinic to collect Hank than the vets announced he needed an urgent, £18,500 op. She said: 'The vet said his spinal cord could die and I might have to put him down if he wasn't operated on now.' Charley claims she was also told to make a decision 'quickly' because 'it's a bank holiday tomorrow'. She refused the surgery, explaining: 'I just couldn't put him back under again. Hank was in such a state. "Then the vet said, 'Well you could have to put him down'. 'I feel like she was just wanting the money.' Hank ended up staying at the practice overnight for £500 without surgery, and the vet offered to submit an insurance claim — for a fee of £60. Two weeks went by and Charley heard nothing. But she says she was later informed by her insurer that it would not pay out due to Hank's IVDD symptoms being pre-existing — despite not being officially diagnosed. 'MANIPULATE EMOTIONS' Charley recalled: 'It felt like the biggest legal scam you could ever imagine. "The way that they manipulate your emotions when you sign up to these things, it's like, 'We care about your pet', but then, when you actually need them the most, they don't really speak to you very nicely, and they just don't really care.' Charley's experience was mirrored by scores of pet owners across the UK, who told The Sun that the 'trusted' large corporations were deeply disappointing. And we can reveal that, behind the practice names, the real owner of your local vet may surprise you. Linnaeus is part of the Mars group in the US which also makes chocolate bars; Medivet is backed by Liechtenstein's royal family; and IVC is part-owned by the Swiss food giant Nestle. VetPartners is run by a private equity group, while fellow British firms Pets At Home and CVS are listed on the stock market. Melanie Osborne, 49, had used the same vet in Worcestershire for 18 years, but said 'care went down and prices went up' after it was taken over by IVC. When her British shorthair cat Teddy fell ill, she suspected it was a blocked bile duct — but she claimed vets dismissed her concerns. After three weeks of worrying, she took Teddy, six, to an independent vet, who operated immediately. Tragically, he died just two days later. It's such a waste of a gorgeous cat, and now I'm left thinking if we'd taken him somewhere which knew what they were doing, would he still be alive? Melanie Osborne Mel said: 'The worrying thing was when we went to the vets and asked, 'Could it be a blocked bile duct?' and they said 'no', they recommended I take him to a different practice. 'But they said I'd probably spend between £3,500 to £4,000, he would probably die anyway 'And if I wanted them to do the operation, they would need to reread a book on it to refresh themselves.' She added: 'Then they charged us £55 for that consultation to essentially tell us he was going to die. 'It's such a waste of a gorgeous cat, and now I'm left thinking if we'd taken him somewhere which knew what they were doing, would he still be alive?' Mel now makes a 40-mile round trip to an independent vet rather than use the corporate clinic, which would be a journey of just six miles. One veterinary nurse with over 40 years' experience noticed deeply concerning changes after her practice was acquired by a corporation. She felt the new bosses were 'non-veterinary people' and 'not interested in the care of the animals'. 'All they want to do is make as much money as possible by reducing staff, restricting the variety of drugs and equipment we can order and increasing prices,' she says. 'All of this makes it so much harder to provide five-star treatment.' Evie Clark, 82, from East London, recalled her shock after rushing her poorly Jackapoo Reggie to a VetPartners practice, only to receive the bill BEFORE the treatment. She said: 'The first thing they said to me when we got him there was the price. 8 A veterinary nurse with over 40 years' experience noticed concerning changes after her practice was acquired by a corporation Credit: Getty "They hadn't even laid a hand on him. They said this is going to be between £1,000 and £1,500-plus. "I said, 'I don't even know what's wrong with him yet'.' Meanwhile, Aniko Ingham saw her vet bills soar after her local practice was sold to CVS. Her cat was referred to a Linnaeus-owned specialist after developing a heart issue. The cost for one month of medication was £195. Aniko, who is in her sixties, found the exact same drugs online for just £76. She fumed: 'They have to make a profit, but this is daylight robbery. "These large corporate fat cats are a disgrace. "They are not there for the animals or their owners — they're focused on pleasing their shareholders. It's greed.' But veterinary staff are also suffering the consequences of an industry in crisis. One vet nurse described enduring 'screaming fits', having 'medication thrown at her', 'storm-outs' and 'shouting' from pet owners. On a daily basis, the sector is blighted by a heavy sense of doom, which has been aggravated by Covid and corporate takeovers. 'CAT CRISIS' The worker said: 'With the bills being so expensive, people are saying they can't afford to keep pets. So we see more animals being abandoned. 'Cats are dumped regularly. But the rehoming centres can't take them.' During the pandemic, it is believed more than 3.2million UK households took on a pet and, since then, about 60 per cent of Brit homes have at least one animal. 'It's the worst it's ever been,' said one 59-year-old cat rescuer currently housing 16 kitties, 'Lack of vets, prices of vets. All of that is part to do with why we have a cat crisis on the streets now.' Even the British Veterinary Association agrees current legislation for vet practices is 'not fit for purpose'. The CMA is expected to publish its plan next month. Possible proposals include a price comparison website and a cap on prescription fees. Lisa Webb, Which? consumer law expert, said: 'Many owners face unexpectedly high vet bills and feel pressured into costly treatments, often with no clear way to challenge them if things go wrong. 8 The facts on the UK's vet crisis "Regulation hasn't kept pace with the rise of corporate-owned practices. "Which? is calling for clearer pricing, transparency around treatment options and a simple complaints process that works for pet owners, not against them. 'We also want to see a mandatory veterinary ombudsman to provide fair, independent dispute resolution when problems can't be resolved with the practice directly.' The Big Six firms were asked to comment. A VetPartners spokesperson said: 'Each of our individual practices delivers their own range of services and pricing is determined locally rather than centrally. "Our practice websites contain price lists.' Have you had a problem with 'rip-off' vets? Email letters@ – we'd love to hear from you. CASE 1: HANK French bulldog 8 Frank was diagnosed with IVDD with owner Charley facing costs of £23.5k Credit: Supplied Owner: Charley Marvin Problem: Intervertebral disc disease Cost: Estimated £18,500 Vet: Linnaeus Charley said: 'The vet said, 'Well, you could have to put him down'. It took all my might not to tell her to do one' CASE 2: TEDDY British shorthair 8 Teddy's owner Melanie Osborne was given an estimate of £3,500 - £4,000 Credit: Supplied Owner: Melanie Osborne Problem: Suspected blocked bile duct Cost: Estimated £3,500 - £4,000 8 Melanie wasn't even given a diagnosis for Teddy Credit: Supplied Vet: IVC Melanie said: 'They said he'd probably die anyway and if I wanted them to do the op they'd have to read a book first' CASE 3: REGGIE Jackapoo 8 Reggie's owner Evie Clark was quoted between £1,000-£1,500 Credit: Supplied Owner: Evie Clark Problem: Required investigation Cost: Estimated: £1,000-£1,500 Vet: VetPartners Evie said: 'They started calculating how much it was going to cost me. They hadn't even laid a hand on him'
