Doctors in the United Kingdom have issued a formal apology to 32-year-old Rhian Butlin after a devastating medical error left her without her uterus, ovaries, and other organs — all removed under the belief she had ovarian cancer. Months later, she learned the truth: the tumor wasn’t cancer at all, and the real cancer had gone undetected until it reached an advanced stage.

Rhian’s nightmare began on her 32nd birthday when she was told she had cancer — a diagnosis that would completely alter her life. For weeks afterward, doctors mistakenly identified the type of cancer she was facing, triggering a cascade of treatment decisions that would later prove unnecessary and life-altering.

Her first symptoms appeared in September 2024, when she visited her doctor with severe abdominal pain. An initial scan suggested polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a relatively common hormonal condition marked by ovarian cysts. Reassured that nothing more sinister was at play, Rhian tried to manage her symptoms. But as her pain worsened and her abdomen began to swell noticeably, she returned to the hospital for further investigation.

A second scan revealed a massive 25cm growth on one ovary. Alarmed by its size, doctors moved quickly, fearing aggressive cancer. The urgency escalated when Rhian developed fluid buildup in her abdomen and a dangerous infection that led to sepsis, forcing her into an induced coma to save her life.

Once stable, she underwent major surgery — a full hysterectomy that removed her ovaries, uterus, appendix, and even the lining of her bowel. Multiple biopsies were taken for testing. She was sent home to recover, believing the worst was over.

Two months later, during a follow-up appointment, doctors delivered shocking news. The biopsies showed no sign of ovarian cancer. Instead, they suspected endometriosis — a non-cancerous yet painful condition that can mimic tumors on scans. “She didn’t have ovarian cancer... apparently they couldn’t find it, so they assumed she must have colon cancer,” her sister Lindsey Rice revealed on GoFundMe.

Rhian underwent a colonoscopy, which came back clear. But just one day later, trusting her gut that something still wasn’t right, she contacted her doctor again. Further testing revealed the devastating truth: she had cancer of the appendix. By then, the disease had already spread to her pelvis and lymph nodes. Within two months, she was facing a stage four diagnosis — aggressive, advanced, and far more dangerous than what she had originally been told.

“I'm just emotionally drained. I'm constantly scared, and some nights I barely sleep,” Rhian told MailOnline. “I’ve had a full hysterectomy when I did not need to. My ovaries were removed when I did not have ovarian cancer. They took the lining of my bowel unnecessarily. Then they removed my appendix, but it wasn’t until months later that they found cancer there.”

The emotional and physical toll has been devastating. Beyond the loss of her reproductive organs and the trauma of a misdiagnosis, Rhian must now endure months of chemotherapy. As a single mother raising her children alone, the stakes could not be higher.

Her sister Lindsey is rallying support online. “She’s everything to her children. She has brought them up single-handedly from day one,” she wrote on the family’s GoFundMe page, urging donations to help them make cherished memories together during this uncertain time.

Rhian’s story is a sobering reminder of the devastating consequences of medical errors — and a powerful testament to a mother’s resilience in the face of unimaginable challenges. Despite the pain, fear, and uncertainty, she remains determined to fight, driven by one unshakable reason: her children’s future.