Ignored Symptoms and Missed Red Flags
Chelsea’s ordeal began in May 2021 with abdominal pain and constipation. Doctors repeatedly attributed her discomfort to period pain or dietary issues. Even when she reported blood in her stool, extreme fatigue, and anxiety, she was sent home. Over four years, she underwent x-rays, colonoscopies, and blood tests—yet her concerns were dismissed as rare for her age. “I was told to come back if things got worse,” she told The Sun.
A Life-Altering Diagnosis
It was only in May 2025, after an MRI at St Mary’s Hospital, that specialists discovered multiple masses in her uterus and ovaries. Chelsea was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer and underwent an emergency hysterectomy. Surgeons also removed part of her bowel and appendix to control the spread. “They told me the cancer must have been in me for a while, but no one caught it,” she said. “They had to remove almost half my organs.”
The Emotional Toll
Now undergoing a six-month course of chemotherapy, Chelsea says she is grateful to finally know the cause of her illness but feels it came “too late.” The mother of two—Mia, 13, and Jordan, 11—has lost the ability to have more children naturally. “I wanted a whole football team, but that’s not possible anymore,” she said. “Hopefully, Jess’s Law can prevent people from ending up in the same situation as me.”
Chelsea’s case echoes the tragedy of Jessica Brady, who died of stage 4 liver cancer at 27 after a late diagnosis. Her story underlines a growing concern: young patients’ symptoms are often dismissed, delaying critical interventions.