Latest news with #NikkiFarrington
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
'I dismissed pain as a stitch before disease took everything'
Nikki Farrington, 46, had initially put the pain down as a "stitch" from working long hours on her feet as a neonatal nurse 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."
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Health
- Wales Online
Mum 'dismissed pain as a stitch' before disease 'took everything'
Mum 'dismissed pain as a stitch' before disease 'took everything' Nikki Farrington said she now had a poor quality of life Nikki Farrington in hospital (Image: Ian Farrington/SWNS) A mum has been diagnosed with incurable ovarian cancer after she initially dismissed the pain in her side as a "stitch". Nikki Farrington, 46, started experiencing heavier periods and a "sharp pain" in her side and stomach in March 2023. The mum-of-one, who worked as a neonatal nurse at New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, initially put the pain down as a "stitch" from working long hours on her feet. After a scan at work, she was initially told she had a 'chocolate cyst' - a type of ovarian cyst filled with dark, old blood and endometrial-like tissue that's usually benign. But a blood test revealed her tumour markers were "elevated" - indicating cancer cells were present around the cyst. In March 2023 Nikki was diagnosed with low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC) - a rare, slow-growing type of ovarian cancer. She underwent surgery in June 2023 and medics discovered the disease had spread - so she had a full hysterectomy, as well as two-thirds of her stomach and a large section of colon removed. After months of chemotherapy, Nikki and her husband, Ian, 49, who worked as an operations coordinator, were hopeful when they were told she had "no sign of disease" in May 2024. But Nikki's health continued to go downhill when she experienced "crippling pain" in her stomach and vomiting. Doctors eventually discovered that a blockage in her bowel was the cancer, which had been slowly growing and is now incurable. Nikki and Ian - who live at home with their son, Jake, nine - are now desperately raising funds to pay for private, alternative treatment as she has been told there are no NHS options left. The mum, who is currently unable to work, from 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 Farrington in hospital (Image: Ian Farrington/SWNS) Nikki set up the first bereavement service within the West Midlands NHS trust, caring and supporting grieving families. At first, she "dismissed" a change in her periods, but grew concerned when she felt a "stitch-like" pain in her side that stuck around. When the pain intensified, she took herself to A&E at the hospital where she worked and underwent an MRI scan and blood tests. She was diagnosed with a 'chocolate cysts' on her right ovary. Nikki claims she was initially reassured by medics "not to worry" until another consultant at work got in touch expressing concern over the scan. A blood test revealed her tumour markers were "elevated" - indicating cancer cells were present around the cyst. In March 2023, Nikki was diagnosed with 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." Nikki and Ian Farrington and their son, Jake (Image: Ian Farrington/SWNS) The operation took place in June 2023 and ended up taking surgeons nine hours to remove all the cancerous tissue they found. As well as a full hysterectomy, doctors removed a portion of her liver, diaphragm, intestine and pelvic wall. She also had part of her stomach and colon removed and doctors created a stoma - a surgically created opening in the abdomen to allow waste to exit the body. 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." Nikki began chemotherapy in September 2023 and declared "cancer-free" in May 2024. Unfortunately, her health continued to go downhill over the next few months. Nikki was admitted to hospital around eight times for pain and vomiting and claims her pain was dismissed as "constipation". She underwent another operation in August 2024, where doctors discovered a blockage in her bowel was the cancer and it had spread to other organs. Nikki Farrington (Image: Ian Farrington/SWNS) Nikki was told there was "nothing more" doctors could do - and a new consultant started Nikki on palliative chemotherapy. The couple are now fundraising with the hopes of finding an alternative treatment privately to prolong Nikki's life. Article continues below She 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."
