Appendix Removal Led to an Unexpected Discovery at Follow-up Scan

WHO:

Yahoo - Claire Fagan is a 35-year-old woman from Dublin, Ireland, and works as a medical secretary.

Newsweek - Claire Fagan is a 35-year-old woman from Dublin, Ireland, and works as a medical secretary.

Yahoo - Fagan’s sister, mother, father, and partner of 17 years are mentioned in her account.

Newsweek - Fagan’s sister, mother, father, and partner of 17 years are mentioned in her account.

WHAT:

Yahoo - Fagan went to the emergency room with severe abdominal pain and had her appendix removed for suspected appendicitis. After surgery, she was told her appendix looked fine and that a burst ovarian cyst had caused the pain.

Newsweek - Fagan went to the emergency room with severe abdominal pain and had her appendix removed for suspected appendicitis. After surgery, she was told her appendix looked fine and that a burst ovarian cyst had caused the pain.

Yahoo - Fluid from the cyst caused an infection; Fagan took antibiotics and had blood tests every few days for three weeks.

Newsweek - Fluid from the cyst caused an infection; Fagan took antibiotics and had blood tests every few days for three weeks.

Yahoo - She later experienced lethargy, night sweats, weight loss, fatigue, abdominal pulling sensations, and loss of appetite. A doctor felt a mass in her abdomen and sent her to the emergency room for imaging.

Newsweek - She later experienced lethargy, night sweats, weight loss, fatigue, abdominal pulling sensations, and loss of appetite. A doctor felt a mass in her abdomen and sent her to the emergency room for imaging.

Yahoo - Hospital staff said they had not scanned her during the initial visit because she was 33. A CT scan showed a mass around her bowel and colon; a doctor said, “Based on your symptoms, we think it’s lymphoma.”

Newsweek - Hospital staff said they had not scanned her during the initial visit because she was 33. A CT scan showed a mass around her bowel and colon; a doctor said, “Based on your symptoms, we think it’s lymphoma.”

Yahoo - Biopsy results confirmed stage 4 bowel cancer. Fagan said she had never experienced bowel problems or blood in her stool.

Newsweek - Biopsy results confirmed stage 4 bowel cancer. Fagan said she had never experienced bowel problems or blood in her stool.

Yahoo - Fagan began immunotherapy, then joined a clinical trial involving three tablets daily, weekly blood tests, and monthly scans. She reported nausea and vomiting initially, followed by improved results and significant tumor reductions.

Newsweek - Fagan began immunotherapy, then joined a clinical trial involving three tablets daily, weekly blood tests, and monthly scans. She reported nausea and vomiting initially, followed by improved results and significant tumor reductions.

Yahoo - Blood tests later showed dangerously high liver markers. A liver biopsy found major drug-caused liver injury. PET scan results showed significant tumor regrowth and additional growth around her liver, stomach, pancreas, and lymph nodes. She said she was on her third round of chemotherapy.

Newsweek - Blood tests later showed dangerously high liver markers. A liver biopsy found major drug-caused liver injury. PET scan results showed significant tumor regrowth and additional growth around her liver, stomach, pancreas, and lymph nodes. She said she was on her third round of chemotherapy.

Yahoo - Fagan said her partner ended their relationship and called off their wedding; she had planned to marry in October 2025.

Newsweek - Fagan said her partner ended their relationship and called off their wedding; she had planned to marry in October 2025.

WHERE:

Yahoo - Fagan is from Dublin, Ireland. She described receiving hospital care there; the articles do not identify the hospital.

Newsweek - Fagan is from Dublin, Ireland. She described receiving hospital care there; the articles do not identify the hospital.

WHEN:

Yahoo - The initial emergency visit occurred in August 2024; she said she was 33 at the time.

Newsweek - The initial emergency visit occurred in August 2024; she said she was 33 at the time.

Yahoo - She sought a doctor’s appointment in October; the article does not specify the year for this and several later events.

Newsweek - She sought a doctor’s appointment in October; the article does not specify the year for this and several later events.

Yahoo - She said biopsy results came back six weeks later, after Christmas, and she began immunotherapy in late January 2025.

Newsweek - She said biopsy results came back six weeks later, after Christmas, and she began immunotherapy in late January 2025.

WHY:

Yahoo - Fagan said the ovarian cyst burst and caused her initial pain; she was told the later abdominal mass would be biopsied.

Newsweek - Fagan said the ovarian cyst burst and caused her initial pain; she was told the later abdominal mass would be biopsied.

Yahoo - Fagan said she shares her story on social media to raise awareness of bowel cancer, especially in younger people.

Newsweek - Fagan said she shares her story on social media to raise awareness of bowel cancer, especially in younger people.

HOW:

Yahoo - The articles state that gastrointestinal lymphoma starts in the digestive tract and can involve abdominal pain, cramping, and weight loss.

Newsweek - The articles state that gastrointestinal lymphoma starts in the digestive tract and can involve abdominal pain, cramping, and weight loss.

Yahoo - Fagan said immunotherapy uses the body’s immune system to fight cancer. She later stopped the trial medication after the liver markers rose and was monitored.

Newsweek - Fagan said immunotherapy uses the body’s immune system to fight cancer. She later stopped the trial medication after the liver markers rose and was monitored.

(UPDATED November 14, 2026 01:06 UTC)

Dubliner Claire Fagan’s biopsy confirmed stage four bowel cancer after doctors found an abdominal mass. Her cancer initially shrank on treatment, but drug-related liver injury prompted her to stop trial medication. Scans later showed substantial regrowth, and Fagan says she is receiving her third chemotherapy round.