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Ryan Butlin, a 32-year-old dental nurse and mother of two, is sharing her heartbreaking story after enduring an unnecessary hysterectomy due to a misdiagnosis. What started as severe abdominal pain turned into a medical ordeal that would change her life forever.
In September 2024, Butlin started suffering from searing stomach cramps. A visit to the doctor resulted in a first scan that was clean. Her symptoms were written off as PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), a condition that frequently occurs in women's hormone levels and results in discomfort. Butlin was aware that something was very wrong.
Swelling, pain, and a shocking discovery
Two months on, her pain intensified, and her abdomen was so bloated she resembled a nine-month pregnant woman. Butlin was taken to the hospital. Another scan showed her a 25cm tumor on one of her ovaries. The doctors quickly decided surgery was the solution.
In December, Butlin had a major surgery: a complete hysterectomy. During the same operation, her appendix and the lining of her intestine were removed because they were inflamed. It was a painful procedure that led to serious complications, including sepsis and a medically induced coma. Her family was torn apart.
We were told our little sister possibly wouldn’t make it through the night, Our world fell apart. Thankfully, Ryan pulled through…she was sent home to recover.
Lindsey Rice, Ryan Butlin's Older Sister
No cancer found — then, a cruel twist
Miraculously, Butlin recovered from surgery and was released back home to recover. But the shock didn't cease. When her biopsy results were in, there was no cancer in her ovaries, intestines, or any of the tissue that had been taken out. The doctors indicated the probable cause was endometriosis, a medical condition that mimics cancer on imaging procedures.
She didn’t have cancer after all. Can you believe how happy we all were? We cried, jumped for joy. The nightmare was over.
Lindsey Rice, Ryan Butlin's Older Sister
But the relief was brief.
A rare cancer, discovered at last, too late
When Butlin's symptoms recurred, she returned for further testing. That is when physicians discovered another startling truth: She had cancer, appendiceal cancer, one of the most unusual. Sadly, the cancer had already spread to her pelvis and lymph nodes. It was stage 4 and deemed inoperable. “They said, ‘We are so sorry, we have gone through your notes and you did actually have cancer. But it was in your appendix and it is one of the rarest forms of cancer,” Rice recalled.
“I'm just emotionally drained. I'm constantly scared, and some nights I barely sleep. It's just been a very scary journey, if I'm honest. Obviously, I've had a full hysterectomy when I did not need to. I've had my ovaries removed when I did not have ovarian cancer, and I've had the lining of my bowel removed when I did not have bowel cancer. Then they did remove my appendix in December, but it wasn't until months later that they found cancer there,” said Butlin.
Even though her appendix was removed in her initial surgery, she tested positive months later. She started a three-month regimen of chemotherapy on April 8.
A family feels betrayed
The emotional impact on Butlin and her family has been staggering. Her sister Lindsay conveyed the disappointment and sorrow of the family:
It's not been the best experience. If they figured it out earlier on, then we would not be in the position we are in now. It feels like we have been massively let down.
Lindsey Rice, Ryan Butlin's Older Sister
Having now a doubtful future ahead of it, the tale of Ryan Butlin becomes a grim reminder of how crucial correct, timely diagnosis and the calamitous impact of medical mistakes are.
Reference:
1. Etienne, Vanessa. 2025. "Woman, 32, Gets Hysterectomy Due to Tumor on Her Ovary. Doctors Later Apologize When Biopsy Shows No Cancer." People, April 15, 2025. https://people.com/woman-32-has-hysterectomy-doctors-apologize-no-cancer-11714951.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Muhammad Faisal Arshad/MSM)
