This ‘food poisoning’ turned out to be a 1-in-a-million cancer—and required the removal of 13 organs
Key Takeaways
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"The slow nature of [this cancer] might delay symptoms for up to several years. Because of this, it usually spreads beyond the appendix before diagnosis," — Sara Mesilhy, MSc, gastroenterologist
We’ve all seen cases where vague symptoms spiral into something serious—but this one takes it to a new level.
Rebecca Hind, 39, from Cumbria, England, first felt sick after her office holiday party in 2018. Like anyone would, she chalked it up to food poisoning. []
But when the nausea and GI discomfort didn’t clear up after a couple of weeks, and then dragged on for months, she knew something wasn’t right.
Diagnosis and treatment
Eventually, Hind was diagnosed with pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP)—a rare cancer that causes mucus to build up in the abdomen, often from a tumor in the appendix.
It’s incredibly rare (about 1 in a million), and by the time it’s found, it can already be widespread. "The slow nature of PMP might delay symptoms for up to several years. Because of this, it usually spreads beyond the appendix before diagnosis," said Sara Mesilhy, MSc, gastroenterologist at Royal College of Physicians. []
Hind had two major surgeries. The first removed her appendix and omentum—and 1.6 gallons of mucus. Chemo didn’t work.
So in round two, surgeons performed a massive debulking surgery, removing 13 organs: her uterus, ovaries, gallbladder, spleen, large bowel, part of her stomach, part of her liver, rectum, diaphragm, and more.
Related: ‘Dismissive' ophthalmologist fails to diagnose retinoblastoma, leaving a child blindWhat doctors can take away from this
Hind, who said she has “essentially run out of treatment options,” now lives without most of her GI tract and depends on medications and fluid nutrition to stay functional. Still, she’s defying expectations—surfing, dog sledding, and planning a 90km charity bike ride to raise money for PMP research.[]
If symptoms don’t go away, dig deeper
“It’s just food poisoning” doesn’t hold up if a patient’s still symptomatic 2 months later.
PMP is rare—but real
You’re unlikely to see it, but it’s a good reminder of what can hide behind chronic abdominal symptoms.
Quality of life matters
Despite her intense medical history, Rebecca’s pushing forward and making the most of it. She’s not just surviving—she’s living.
Related: Rare cancer misdiagnosed as 'growing pains'