14-Year-Old Diagnosed with Rugby Ball-Sized Ovarian Tumour in UK

Izzy Pickering, a 14-year-old from Derbyshire, was diagnosed with stage two ovarian cancer after her symptoms of severe back pain, stomach aches, and vomiting were initially mistaken for period pain or appendicitis. Despite early visits to A&E and a GP, her large rugby ball-sized tumour, which had pushed her organs backward and attached near her spine, was only discovered after her parents insisted on further testing during a second emergency room visit. Following surgical removal of the tumour, doctors are hopeful chemotherapy will be effective due to the relatively early diagnosis. Izzy's mother, Lisa Pickering, is calling for ovarian cancer screening to be made available to children from the onset of their periods, emphasizing that young girls can develop this cancer even before becoming sexually active. There is currently no national screening program for ovarian cancer in the UK, which primarily affects women over 50 but accounts for 7,500 new cases annually, and Lisa aims to raise awareness that symptoms in young girls should not be overlooked. The case highlights the urgent need for better recognition and testing protocols for ovarian cancer in younger populations.