I thought I was going to die and I was feeling very down and depressed. It may attach and hide between the organs and continue to grow until my death or removal. it it spreads to the abdomen and occasionally to the lungs. Further surgery was scheduled for eight weeks later to remove my appendix and part of my intestines.Įarlier, the doctor explained that although the tumor was not cancerous, meaning it does not tend to metastasize to the bone, blood or brain, it released cells that produce mucin, a gel-like substance. I struggled to accept everything Of course I was shocked, but there was a sense of satisfaction when I felt it explained why I had suffered for so long. They believed it originated from my appendix and exploded, causing the cells to spread around my abdomen. The doctor later explained that it was actually a benign tumor and measured 16×17 cm: the size of a pineapple. I was shocked, but it almost all happened so: I underwent surgery the next day. There the pain got worse and after the ultrasounds and a CT scan I was given pethidine (an opioid pain reliever) and was hospitalized.Ī consultant explained that they thought I had an ovarian cyst and that they would have to operate to remove it. When we got back to LondonI went to the hospital. So, as I curled up on the hotel bed, I promised to see a specialist as soon as we got home. In the previous months, I had visited the doctor for my stomach pains and was told it could be anything from my age, to hormones, to IBS, but nothing was done. I thought I was dying (Photo: Susie Fraser)ĭeep in the rainforest of Borneo, I was overcome with agonizing stomach pains.