A Warwickshire woman who survived a rare form of ovarian cancer has shared how a tumour that grew to the size of a football ultimately saved her life by forcing doctors to take emergency action.
Lisa Carroll, 47, was diagnosed with mucinous ovarian cancer (MOC) in late 2021. The rare subtype of the disease accounts for only around 200 cases in the UK each year and is often difficult to detect in its early stages because symptoms can mimic less serious conditions.
For Ms Carroll, the rapid growth of the mass — which expanded from a 12cm cyst to a 20cm mass within a single month — caused such severe pain that it triggered the emergency intervention she believes prevented the cancer from spreading further.
“In a strange way, the size of the tumour saved my life,” she said, reflecting on her diagnosis. “Because it grew so fast and became so large, the pain became impossible to ignore, which meant they had to operate immediately.”
Misdiagnosis and rapid growth
The journey to diagnosis began following a family holiday in 2021. Ms Carroll, who serves as the CEO of the charity Lifespace Trust, initially experienced symptoms that were mistaken for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or a potential kidney infection.
By December 2021, her condition had deteriorated. Clinical scans revealed that the mass had grown to the size of a football. She underwent emergency surgery at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire to remove the tumour, along with her appendix and a fallopian tube.
The procedure also resulted in “surgical menopause,” a common but often under-discussed consequence for younger women undergoing treatment for ovarian cancer. This occurs when the ovaries are removed or damaged, leading to an immediate onset of menopausal symptoms.
A rare diagnosis
Mucinous ovarian cancer is distinct from more common types of the disease. It is often diagnosed in younger women and does not always respond to standard chemotherapy in the same way as other subtypes.
According to the national charity Ovacome, early detection remains the biggest challenge. Because MOC tumours can grow very large before they are caught, they often cause physical pressure on other organs before they are identified as malignant.
Now a member of the board of trustees for Ovacome, Ms Carroll is using her experience to advocate for greater awareness, particularly for those whose symptoms may have been dismissed.
Symptoms to monitor
Health officials and charities urge women to “trust their gut” if they feel something is wrong. NHS guidelines suggest that anyone experiencing the following symptoms more than 12 times a month should contact their GP:
- Persistent bloating or a “swollen” tummy.
- Feeling full quickly or loss of appetite.
- Pain in the pelvic area or stomach.
- Needing to urinate more urgently or more often than usual.
Other signs can include persistent fatigue or unexplained weight loss. While these symptoms are often caused by less serious issues, the NHS advises using the 111 service if abdominal pain is worsening or if symptoms do not resolve with standard over-the-counter treatments.