A woman has revealed how she first thought her burst appendix was just a hangover before medics discovered a rare slow-growing cancer.
Civil servant Amber Scott, 21, from Ballymena in Northern Ireland, had spent two years prior to her diagnosis in March 2019, telling doctors about her severe stomach pains – but was constantly misdiagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome.
However, her agony was in fact due to a neuroendocrine tumour (NET) – which affects the cells that release hormones into the bloodstream.
Thankfully, Amber has now been given the all clear after two operations to remove the tumour, and said she has to laugh when she looks back about how she was diagnosed following a night out for St Patrick’s Day.
Both Amber and her mother believed the pain she was feeling from her burst appendix was actually a hangover – until heading to Antrim Area Hospital two days later after the discomfort had worsened.
Amber now believes that if her appendix hadn’t burst, she might not have been diagnosed until her cancer was terminal.
Civil servant Amber Scott (above) has revealed how she first thought her burst appendix was just a hangover before medics discovered a rare slow-growing cancer
Amber (pictured left, recently, and right, in hospital), 21, from Ballymena in Northern Ireland, had spent two years prior to her diagnosis in March 2019, telling doctors about her severe stomach pains – but was constantly misdiagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome
But her agony was due to a condition much more ‘traumatic’, with the young woman suffering from a neuroendocrine tumour (NET) – which affects the cells that release hormones into the bloodstream. Pictured, Amber on her night out for St Patrick’s Day
Speaking exclusively to FEMAIL, Amber said: ‘I have to laugh when I look back on how I was diagnosed with cancer. I was out drinking with my friends on St Patrick’s Day when my appendix burst. I’d had a few wee drinks, so I didn’t even realise at the time.
‘The next day I was lying on the sofa in pain; I felt like I was dying. I said I needed to go to the hospital, but my mum just thought I was hungover.
‘Initially I thought it was a hangover too, but then I got a fever and couldn’t even stand up as I was in agony. It got worse and worse and then two days later, mum took me to the hospital.’
At first, medics also thought it was a huge hangover or Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), but kept Amber in for observation and realised her appendix had burst.
Thankfully, Amber has now been given the all clear after two operations to remove the tumour and said she has to laugh when she looks back about how she was diagnosed following a night out for St Patrick’s Day (pictured)
Both her and her mother believed the pain she was feeling from her burst appendix was actually a hangover – until heading to Antrim Area Hospital two days later after the discomfort had worsened
Amber (pictured) now believes that if her appendix hadn’t burst, she might not have been diagnosed until her cancer was terminal
This normally happens before puberty, so after it was removed it was sent off for testing – with Amber then called in to discover her results.
‘I thought it was all over and that I was just going into hospital for a check-up. I still didn’t realise anything was wrong when they asked me to bring my mum,’ she admitted.
‘As soon as they said that I’d had a tumour in my appendix my mum lost it. I couldn’t wrap my head around it and didn’t cry.
‘I was shook to say the least, but my appendix bursting was my saving grace and probably saved my life as they wouldn’t have discovered it otherwise.’
If Amber’s appendix hadn’t burst, she believes the likelihood is that it would have not been discovered until it was terminal.
Most people who get this type of cancer are older, and the cause of their death is only discovered after they have died.
‘It was a slow-growing tumour so it could have been in my body for around 10 years without me knowing,’ explained Amber, who had spent two years telling doctors that there was something wrong.
‘I’d been having bad stomach pains on and off for two years before hand, but the doctors kept misdiagnosing me,’ she said.
‘I was told that it could be IBS, that I wasn’t eating properly, or that it could be an UTI. I must have been to the GP at least six or seven times in that two year period. They just kept saying that it was IBS. I didn’t think for a moment it would be cancer.’
Amber added: ‘If my appendix hadn’t burst it probably wouldn’t have been discovered until it was terminal.’
Following the removal of her appendix, a further operation to get rid of the rest of the tumour fro her bowle in May 2019 was successful and after check-ups no further treatment was needed.
‘It was a huge relief, like a giant weight being lifted off my shoulders. My sister Tamsin took me away on a spa week to celebrate, Amber said.
However, the civil servant admitted that it was really only after her treatment that the full extent of what she’d been through hit her and she ‘started to struggle’.
However, the civil servant (pictured in hospital) admitted that it was really only after her treatment that the full extent of what she’d been through hit her and she ‘started to struggle’
Thankfully, Teenage Cancer Trust’s Outreach Clinical Nurse Specialist Kerrie, who helped Amber, seen right, following her diagnosis, was also on hand after her treatment. The nurse encouraged her to attend Teenage Cancer Trust’s Find Your Sense of Tumour event, pictured left, a free weekend away with other young people with cancer
Thankfully, Teenage Cancer Trust’s Outreach Clinical Nurse Specialist Kerrie, who helped Amber following her diagnosis, was also on hand after her treatment.
The nurse referred Amber for counselling sessions ‘because the whole thing had left her traumatised’, and introduced her to a new young friend, Catherine, who lived just 30 minutes away from her and had also had the same rare cancer.
‘We meet up for coffee and it was amazing to speak to somebody who knew exactly what I was going through. I now consider her one of my best and closest friends,’ said Amber.
Kerrie also encouraged the pair to attend Teenage Cancer Trust’s Find Your Sense of Tumour event, a free weekend away with other young people with cancer.
Amber with friends she met at a Teenage Cancer Trust event including new best friend Catherine, pictured at the front
Amber said nurse Kerrie had been a huge help, and so she is sharing her story to raise awareness about why the work Teenage Cancer Trust does is important and to encourage donations to its emergency appeal.
‘Teenage Cancer Trust’s Outreach Clinical Nurse Specialist Kerrie was in the room when I was diagnosed,’ recalled Amber.
‘The doctor talked about the practical side of things like my treatment plan, and then Kerrie took me to another room and was there for the emotional side of it.
‘When I was told I had cancer I was in total shock, completely numb it just didn’t register and didn’t sink in properly for a long time.
Amber, seen centre, said nurse Kerrie had been a huge help, and so she is sharing her story to raise awareness about why the work Teenage Cancer Trust does is important
‘Kerrie was a fantastic support and I couldn’t have got through it all without her. She is one of the most amazing people I ever met – an absolute angel.’
She added: ‘Teenage Cancer Trust is an incredible charity that helped me so much, and it’s terrible to think that all the work they do is at risk because of COVID-19 spoiling all its fundraising this year.
‘I would say to people to please donate whatever they can to their emergency appeal and help them keep going.’ Due to COVID-19, Teenage Cancer Trust has lost 50 per cent of its income.
Text HELP to 70575 to donate £5 to charity Teenage Cancer Trust’s emergency appeal or visit www.teenagecancertrust.org/tv