In February 2025, a friend told Sarah Williams her eyes had turned yellow, prompting her to call 111 and be rushed to Southend University Hospital. At the hospital, she underwent blood tests and a CT scan. Williams chose to undergo the Whipple procedure at the Royal London Hospital to remove the tumour and 20 surrounding lymph nodes.
After the surgery, her stitches split, requiring another operation. She was discharged after nine days of monitoring but was rushed back to the hospital hours later due to severe pain. Williams alleges that doctors told her on a consistent basis to get laxatives for her constipation, which she says was a misdiagnosis.
The NHS lists diarrhoea or constipation and yellowing of eyes or skin as symptoms of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is typically diagnosed at a late stage when treatment is less successful. Just one in four pancreatic cancer patients live more than a year after diagnosis.
Pancreatic cancer is on the rise in younger age groups, especially women. The specific tests or examinations conducted by the GP before advising laxatives, the current status of Williams's treatment and recovery, and whether the doctors or GP practice involved have responded to the allegations of misdiagnosis remain unknown.