Doctors claimed it was GOOD that I suddenly lost 5st after giving birth… then they realised the heartbreaking truth and told me I wouldn’t be alive to see my daughter turn one

• Ollie Isbell endured 3 months of severe stomach pain after giving birth last year
• The 23-year-old from Weymouth was given painkillers and laxatives by her GP
• But scans taken in A&E later revealed cancer in her chest, intestines and bowel

A new mother diagnosed with stage-four cancer and given just a year to live claims doctors dismissed her symptoms — and even said it was ‘good’ when she suddenly lost 5st after giving birth.

Ollie Isbell, from Weymouth in Dorset, welcomed her daughter Harper in November last year.

But just a month later the 23-year-old began experiencing severe stomach pain that left her curled up in agony and sobbing.

An ultrasound scan revealed Ms Isbell had gall stones and she underwent surgery to remove her gall bladder in December. 

Yet her agony endured and the support worker, who assists adults and children with learning disabilities, unintentionally dropped from a size 16 to a 10 within just three months.

Ollie Isbell, from Weymouth in Dorset, welcomed her daughter Harper in November last year. But just a month later the 23-year-old began experiencing severe stomach pain that left her curled up in agony and sobbing. Pictured, Ms Isbell with her partner Owen and Harper, aged 4 months in March, two days after her cancer diagnosis

An ultrasound scan revealed Ms Isbell had gall stones and she underwent surgery to remove her gall bladder in December. Yet her agony endured and the support worker, who assists adults and children with learning disabilities, unintentionally dropped from a size 16 to a 10 within just three months. Pictured, Ms Isbell with Harper, aged 8 month, in July

It was only after being rushed to A&E in March, after collapsing at her mum’s home, that doctors discovered she had multiple bowel obstructions. A CT scan of her chest found another mass and a biopsy then revealed Ms Isbell had diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Pictured, Ms Isbell with Harper, aged 10 months, in September 

Ms Isbell says doctors told her she simply wasn’t ‘coping with being a mum’, instead prescribing her painkillers and laxatives. 

It was only after being rushed to A&E in March, after collapsing at her mum’s home, that doctors discovered she had multiple bowel obstructions. 

A CT scan of her chest found another mass and a biopsy then revealed Ms Isbell had diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

The cancer in her chest, intestines and bowel was so severe she started a gruelling regime of chemotherapy the day after her diagnosis. 

Now on the brink of being cancer-free after months of treatment, Ms Isbell said: ‘They said I wouldn’t be here for her first birthday and now I’m planning her party — I like to prove people wrong.’ 

Discussing her ordeal, she added: ‘After the gall bladder surgery the pain was in the bottom left of my stomach so I kept going back to the doctors.

Read more: Six little-known signs of blood cancer revealed as disease-stricken Jurassic Park actor Sam Neill gives update on his illness

‘They gave me an ultrasound because they thought it may have been some retained placenta but the area they scanned wasn’t where I was getting the pain.

‘I kept asking for a scan of where the pain was but they wouldn’t, they were all saying it was in my head.’

Ms Isbell revealed she would have ‘really intense’ cramps whenever she ate or drank. 

Abdominal pain is a sign of the rare type of cancer, which around 5,000 Brits are diagnosed with every year. 

Another tell-tale symptom, according to Cancer Research UK, is drastic weight loss.  

Ms Isbell said: ‘I lost five stone in 12 weeks, in the space of a few weeks I went from a size 16 to a size 10.

‘But when I told the doctor that he just said “it’s good to lose weight after a baby”.

‘I tried to explain I couldn’t eat or drink anything and he kept saying I was being a bit dramatic with the gall bladder recovery.’

She said: ‘A different GP said he couldn’t see anything wrong with me besides me being “overly emotional” and said it just sounds like you’re not coping with being a mum and having somebody depend on you.

‘That comment really annoyed me because I was a learning disability support worker, I was very much used to people depending on me round the clock.

‘I think they didn’t take me seriously because I was young and I just had a baby so they said that was the cause of everything.

‘Nobody wanted to look into it. I saw three different GPs, how did nobody pick up on it?’

After hospital scans revealed she was suffering from diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), doctors told her ‘it’s a very hard thing to diagnose’, Ms Isbell claimed. 

‘But if you look up the cancer all of my symptoms line up,’ she added. 

‘When they said it was cancer, in a way it was a relief because I knew something wasn’t right and nobody had been listening.

‘As soon as they left I burst into tears and my first thought was Harper’s not going to have a mum.

‘I had a bit of a breakdown about leaving her so they got a room with a cot for me to have a treatment and my mum and little sister pretty much took turns staying at the hospital with me so I could see Harper every day.’

Ms Isbell revealed she would have ‘really intense’ cramps whenever she ate or drank. Abdominal pain is a sign of the rare type of cancer, which around 5,000 Brits are diagnosed with every year. Another tell-tale symptom, according to Cancer Research UK, is drastic weight loss. Pictured, Ms Isbell with Harper, aged 9 months in August

Ms Isbell spent five months undergoing chemotherapy treatment at Dorset County Hospital before being transferred to Southampton General Hospital. She stayed there for three and a half months. She is currently back in hospital, however, after contracting sepsis — when bacterial infections such as pneumonia , or viral infections, including flu , send the immune system haywire, causing it to attack major organs. Pictured, Ms Isbell with Harper, aged 9 months in August

DLBCL is the most common type of high-grade — fast growing — non-Hodgkin lymphoma. 

It develops when B-cells become abnormal, or cancerous. B-cells are white blood cells that normally help fight infection. 

Other common symptoms can include night sweats and high temperatures with no obvious cause.

DLBCL may also affect other parts of the body outside the lymph nodes, such as the stomach or bowel. 

Ms Isbell spent five months undergoing chemotherapy treatment at Dorset County Hospital before being transferred to Southampton General Hospital.

She stayed there for three and a half months.  

She is currently back in hospital, however, after contracting sepsis — when bacterial infections such as pneumonia, or viral infections, including flu, send the immune system haywire, causing it to attack major organs. 

She said: ‘By the end of the chemotherapy my body was so weak I couldn’t even roll over in bed myself or lift my head up.

‘I have one more PET scan to give me the all clear and fingers crossed that will be the end of my treatment for the lymphoma, but I will never be able to eat again, I will be tube fed for life and the scar tissue means I still have the pain so I’m on a long list of medications.

‘I am angry, for what it’s taken, if they had listened things could have been so different. But I’m also just so grateful I’m still here for Harper.

‘I definitely don’t think I would’ve got through it if I didn’t have Harper to fight for.

‘She’s my little miracle that I needed to get through this year.’

A spokesperson for the Royal Crescent and Preston Road Practice, where Ms Isbell was seen, said: ‘Whilst we are not able to discuss individual details, we are sorry to hear about Olivia-Louise’s situation and would welcome the opportunity to speak with her in person to discuss her circumstances in more detail.’

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Dorset County Hospital said: ‘We are sorry to hear about these concerns.

‘We would welcome the chance to speak with Olivia-Louise about her experiences if she would be happy to talk things through with us, so we can review whether anything could have been done differently.’

Dr Paul Johnson, chief medical officer with NHS Dorset said: ‘We are saddened to hear of Olivia-Louise’s experiences and would encourage her to speak to the practice about her concerns and ongoing support.

‘We would also encourage anyone who may have concerns about symptoms of cancer, to please book an appointment with their GP or regular clinician as soon as possible.’

Throughout her treatment this year, Ms Isbell has been supported by the Teenage Cancer Trust and has raised more than £700 to help support their work.  

WHAT IS NON-HODGKIN LYMPHOMA?

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) is a type of cancer that starts in white blood cells called lymphocytes.

It affects the lymph system, which is involved in fighting infections and helping fluid move through the body.

NHL can start anywhere where lymph tissue is found, such as lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, tonsils and the digestive tract. It differs from Hodgkin’s lymphoma due to the type of immune cells it affects. 

NHL is one of the most common types of cancers in the US, making up four per cent of all forms of the disease. Around 74,200 Americans will be diagnosed with the condition this year, according to Cancer.Net.

And it is the sixth most common cancer in the UK, with 13,682 cases in 2015, Cancer Research UK statistics show.

NHL is grouped depending on how quickly it grows and spreads. Indolent NHL grows slowly and may not require treating straight away. Aggressive NHL spreads quickly and requires immediate treatment.

Regardless of how quickly it grows, all NHLs can spread to other parts of the lymph system if untreated. It can also spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver or brain. 

Anyone can develop NHL, however, most cases occur in people in their 60s or older. For unclear reasons, it is also more common in men.

Some studies have suggested that exposure to certain weedkillers and pesticides may increase the risk, as do chemotherapy drugs and some arthritis medications. More research is required to determine this. 

Patients treated with radiotherapy for other cancers are slightly more at risk of NHL in later life. Those with a weak immune system, such as HIV patients or people who have recently had an organ transplant, are also more susceptible.

A family history of NHL and being overweight are also linked to the condition.

Although rare, some women with breast implants develop a type of lymphoma in their breasts, which seems to be more common if the implants have a rough texture.

NHL treatment depends on how advanced a patient’s disease is but might include chemo, radiotherapy, a stem cell transplant or, in rare cases, surgery.

Source: American Cancer Society 

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