Bloating Misdiagnosed as IBS Leads to Tragic Ovarian Cancer Death

Bloating Misdiagnosed as IBS Leads to Tragic Ovarian Cancer Death

A nursery teacher, Miranda Foley, passed away at the age of 56 from ovarian cancer, a disease often misdiagnosed as bloating or IBS. Miranda’s story serves as a poignant reminder that ovarian cancer can affect women at any age. Her son, Sam Foley, is now on a mission to raise awareness and funds for ovarian cancer research, emphasizing the importance of not dismissing bloating as a mere digestive issue.

Miranda first noticed symptoms of bloating in 2018. Despite being otherwise healthy, she sought medical advice from her GP. Eventually, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer a day before her birthday and underwent several rounds of chemotherapy. Sadly, her condition worsened over three years, leading to her untimely death on October 4, 2021.

Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cause of cancer death in females in the UK, killing around 2,000 women each year. Despite its prevalence, symptoms like bloating and pain are often overlooked, resulting in misdiagnosis. Sam’s campaign aims to highlight this issue, urging women not to ignore these symptoms. His mother’s experience is a testament to the fact that ovarian cancer can affect any woman, regardless of age. A case in point is a 20-year-old woman from the U.S., who also tragically died from the disease.

In memory of his mother, Sam plans to run a half marathon to raise funds for Target Ovarian Cancer. His fundraising efforts have already gained support from JustGiving. In an exclusive interview with the Mirror, Sam shared his grief and memories of his mother, describing her as a loving, gentle and selfless woman who always put others first. He hopes that his efforts can contribute to the fight against ovarian cancer and spare other families the pain of losing a loved one to this common killer.