Liverpool nurse receives rare stomach cancer diagnosis after 18 months dismissed as anxiety.

For eighteen months, Chloe Sterling endured debilitating heartburn that persisted for days. Her doctors prescribed acid tablets and antibiotics without ever examining her.

At thirty-one, the Liverpool nurse managed symptoms by avoiding greasy food and alcohol. Yet by December 2024, pain became unbearable. She stopped her Mounjaro injections and visited A&E.

Doctors performed an endoscopy at her request. They reassured her the pain was merely an infection. She left with antibiotics, but her condition worsened daily.

She pressed her GP for a specialist referral. The doctor dismissed her claims, stating she was simply anxious. It took eighteen months for the true diagnosis to emerge.

During a routine follow-up, the reality struck. Chloe had signet ring cell adenocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive stomach cancer. She received the news over the phone while suffering from the flu.

The disease was caught early before spreading. Her treatment included four rounds of chemotherapy. A seven-hour operation removed her entire stomach.

She spent three days in intensive care before beginning recovery. She had to learn to eat again. Now she is cancer-free but receives regular check-ups.

Chloe credits her medical background for her persistence in demanding specific tests. Without it, the cancer might not have been found so early.

Despite her survival, the disease remains aggressive. Only thirty-seven percent of patients with this condition survive five years after diagnosis.

For decades, stomach cancer was viewed strictly as a disease of old age, predominantly striking individuals over 65, particularly those who smoked. Today, however, the demographic has shifted dramatically. Since the 2010s, cases among people under 50 have risen by approximately one per cent annually. The trend accelerates even faster for women, with incidence climbing by about three per cent each year. Conversely, for those diagnosed at stage four, the most advanced stage, survival rates remain grim, dropping to around seven per cent.

Charities confirm that this surge in young diagnoses is a distinct and worrying trend. Sheena Dewan, Director of Stomach Cancer UK, notes the stark change in her professional experience over the last decade. "When I started I would often to speak to children who's parents had been diagnosed but now it is almost entirely people aged 30-50 who themselves have the disease," she says. Researchers point to the bacteria H. pylori as a likely culprit behind this disturbing rise. While roughly 40 per cent of the population carries this bacteria without symptoms, it can cause ulcers and indigestion. Left untreated, these conditions are believed to elevate the risk of developing cancer.

Despite the grim outlook for advanced cases, there is hope for earlier detection and treatment. Last week, the National Institute for Health and Social Care (Nice), the NHS spending watchdog, approved a new drug. This decision was hailed as the 'first major advance' in stomach cancer treatment in nearly a decade. The immunotherapy drug durvalumab, also known as Imfinzi and manufactured by AstraZeneca, is intended for adults with stomach cancer that has not spread extensively and can be surgically removed. This therapy harnesses the body's immune system to fight the disease. Trials indicate that durvalumab combined with chemotherapy extends the time before cancer progresses and improves survival rates.

Experts believe this rollout will significantly alter patient outcomes. Wasat Mansoor, Consultant in Medical Oncology at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, stated that gastric cancers remain difficult to treat, especially at earlier stages where recurrence risks persist after surgery. "The trial results are particularly meaningful, showing that a durvalumab-based perioperative regimen improved patient outcomes," he said. Chloe, a patient who welcomed the new drug, acknowledged the uncertainty of what might have been. "I will never know whether it could have helped me, but given how effective it is at stopping recurrence it could make a real difference," she said. "I know from personal experience just how important that is.