A MUM told she was “too young” had to have “almost half her organs removed” after being diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer.
Chelsea Davies, 31, said she was “devastated and furious” that the cancer was caught so late – after visiting the doctor ten times over four years.
Chelsea Davies, 31, was told she was ‘too young for cancer’
The mum was diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer after visiting the GP 10 times over four years
The mum started getting and in May 2021, but doctors put it down to .
Despite her concerns it could be cancer, she was told she was “too young” and to come back if anything worsened.
During this time, she suffered with blood in her stool, “extreme fatigue, and anxiety”.
Over the course of four years, Chelsea went back to hospital over 10 times and underwent several scans – including x-rays and even a colonoscopy.
It was only during a check-up in May 2025 that she was referred to an oncologist at St Mary’s Hospital.
There, an MRI and ultrasound scan of her uterus confirmed she had multiple masses – and she was diagnosed with stage three .
Chelsea underwent an emergency hysterectomy, an operation to remove her uterus.
But, due to the “severity” of her cancer, she also had part of her bowel removed as well as her appendix, and is now on a six-month course of chemotherapy.
Although she has not been given a prognosis, Chelsea says she “fears” for her life and that she “may be the next Jessica Brady”.
Twenty-seven-year-old Jessica died of stage 4 liver cancer, which was only spotted three weeks before her death in 2020.
She contacted her surgery as she grappled with abdominal pain, coughing, vomiting and weight loss, but was told told that due to her age, it couldn’t be anything serious.
A new initiative has been been rolled out in her name – called Jess’s Rule – where GPs in are being urged to “think again” if they see a sick patient three times and can’t pin down a diagnosis, or find their symptoms are getting worse.
The Government says Jess’s Rule will see more patients diagnosed with serious illnesses early.
Chelsea Davies, a cleaner from Ashton-under-Lyne, , said: “I can’t believe it took four years to get an answer.
Jessica Brady died from cancer aged 27 after signs were repeatedly missed by doctors
Chelsea’s symptoms were repeatedly dismissed as period pain
Chelsea with partner, Noel, 41, and children Mia, 13, and Jordan, 11.
“It’s completely turned my life upside down.
“I can’t help but think my cancer was preventable.
“Now I’ve got no uterus, no eggs, and no hair.
“Like, Jessica, I feel like it’s too late for me and I know this rule would’ve helped me.
“I’m not ready to leave my two kids, Mia, 13, Jordan, 11, and partner, Noel, 41, behind.”
‘Hopeless’
Chelsea first visited hospital in September 2021 after experiencing “months” of “stomach-bug-like” symptoms.
“I didn’t think it was anything too serious,” she said.
“The doctors just felt my tummy and told me it’s most likely my period.”
But Chelsea’s symptoms worsened – and at one point, she was constipated for two weeks – and the mum went to the doctors later that month after finding blood in her stool.
“They performed a prostate examination and later a colonoscopy,” she added.
“But they couldn’t find anything.
“I still kept hearing that it was my period, and at one point, the doctors suggested a diet change, thinking I had IBS.
“Nothing they said or gave me worked.
“I was worried that it might have been cancer, but they didn’t bother to look because of my age.
“They said it was too rare,” she claimed.
They told me the cancer must have been in me for a while, but no one caught it. And now my body was covered in masses; they had to remove almost half my organs
Chelsea Davies
Over four years, Chelsea went back and forth over 10 times, with doctors continuing to pin her symptoms to her period or diet and even prescribing her blood thinners after finding a small clot in her left lung.
“I felt hopeless and convinced it was something more serious,” Chelsea said.
“My body was failing me and I had it in my head that it was cancer.”
Eventually, in May 2025, Chelsea was admitted to St Mary’s Hospital and had an MRI scan of her pelvis – where she was later diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer after specialists found lesions in her ovaries.
She underwent an emergency hysterectomy that same month, to remove her uterus, as well as her appendix and part of her bowel, after doctors explained that she was “riddled” with cancer.
Chelsea had to have multiple organs removed
She’s now undergoing chemotherapy, which has caused her to lose her hair
Chelsea is now undergoing a six-month course of chemotherapy to help keep the cancer at bay.
“I was devastated and furious,” she said.
“They told me the cancer must have been in me for a while, but no one caught it.
“And now my body was covered in masses; they had to remove almost half my organs.”
The mum-of-two was “devastated” to find out she wouldn’t be able to have more kids naturally.
What are the signs of ovarian cancer?
Ovarian cancers affects the ovaries – the organs that store the eggs needed to make babies.
It mostly affects women over the age of 50 and can sometimes run in families, according to the .
Symptoms of the cancer can be vague, particularly in its early stages, SAYS.
The charity advises you speak to a GP if you have the following symptoms:
- Pain in your abdomen or lower part of your abdomen that doesn’t go away
- or an increase in the size of your abdomen
- more often
- Tiredness that is unexplained
- or symptoms of , especially if this starts after the age of 50
The NHS added that bleeding from the vagina after the menopause could be another possible symptom of ovarian cancer.
“I wanted a whole football team, but that’s not possible anymore,” she added.
“For years, I thought I was crazy – and had to ask my friends if they thought I was overreacting to my symptoms.
“Although I’m grateful I finally know I have cancer, I can’t help but think it’s too late.
“Hopefully, Jess’s law can prevent people from ending up in the same situation as me.
“My future would probably look entirely different.”
