​Mom of three dies days after cancer diagnosis after two crucial signs were missed

A 35-year-old woman succumbed to death, just days after being diagnosed with cancer. Sian Ashcroft, a mother of three three passed away a few days after being diagnosed with terminal cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) in January 2024. 18 days after the diagnosis, her condition rapidly deteriorated and she breathed her last.
During the time of diagnosis, she was given a few months to live, however, the death came soon after, leaving her family little time to process the devastating news.

Sian first became aware of potential health concerns in early 2023 when she attempted to donate blood. She couldn't donate blood and was told she was anemic. Following this, she began taking iron supplements, but by August, she developed persistent abdominal pain, which is a common sign of CCA.
Initially, she suspected food poisoning, but when the pain persisted, she was taken to the hospital.

The doctors first suspected gallstones, formed in the bladder. However, the pain persisted and only got worse. In Nov. 2023, the woman was told she had lesions on her liver However, her official cancer diagnosis did not come until two months later.
In Jan. 2024 she was diagnosed with terminal cholangiocarcinoma and was told she had months to live.
"Sian's prognosis was an incredible shock for everyone. She had become increasingly poorly, with frequent visits to her GP and time spent in hospital, but her diagnosis came too late to save her. Despite this, she remained incredibly positive, she never lost her sense of humour, she was exceptionally brave and, above all, she never stopped thinking about her family," her mum, Sue Dowling told BBC.
What is cholangiocarcinoma?

Cholangiocarcinoma also known as bile duct cancer cholangiocarcinoma is a type of cancer that starts in a bile duct. It can start in any part of the bile duct system.
According to the American Cancer Society, bile duct cancer doesn’t usually cause signs or symptoms until later in the course of the disease. However, sometimes symptoms can appear sooner and lead to an early diagnosis. The chances of the treatment working better are higher when the cancer is detected at an early stage.

Though this type of cancer does not cause symptoms, because a bile duct is blocked. Also, the symptoms depend on the location of the cancer, inside the liver or outside it.
However, some symptoms are jaundice, itching of the skin, light-coloured or greasy stools, dark urine, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, and fever.
(Pic courtesy: iStock)