Lauren Carey’s family is speaking out after her rare and aggressive cancer went undiagnosed twice, urging others to trust their instincts and persist in seeking answers. At the age of 30, Lauren is working through her ‘bucket list’ after learning her diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder is terminal.

Megan Carey, Lauren’s 28-year-old sister, is advising people who are unsure about their health assessments to pursue multiple opinions. This advice comes after Lauren’s concerns were initially disregarded by healthcare professionals.

“The medical care has been severely lacking,” Megan stated. “Lauren thought about filing a complaint, but given the lengthy process, it’s not feasible because she won’t be around to see it resolved. If something feels wrong with your body, be persistent. Don’t let doctors brush you off.”

Lauren, hailing from Banstead, Surrey, previously worked as a duty manager in a supermarket. She was born with bladder exstrophy, a rare condition causing her bladder to develop outside her body. This was corrected, but her bladder continued to function improperly, leading to her first major surgery at age eight to install a catheter, which she has relied on ever since.

Three years ago, Lauren received the diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder, attributed to her prolonged catheter use. Although surgeons removed her bladder and created a stoma, assuring the family this would halt the cancer’s spread, they received heartbreaking news last month. The cancer had returned, now affecting her pelvis and abdomen, with no viable treatment options remaining.

Megan recounted, “It was like she was intolerant to dairy; certain foods made her ill. Yet, the doctors dismissed her symptoms as simply IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).”

“She didn’t believe it. She didn’t feel unwell at this point, so she didn’t believe it was cancer. Eventually they did a biopsy, which revealed that it is.

“It was awful to hear. We were devastated. They said from the start that if this cancer returned there was nothing they could do.

“Now we are just trying to make memories with her. I have done a lot of research on it and it is a fast-spreading cancer.”

Megan, who lives in Horley, claims her sister’s symptoms were repeatedly dismissed by medical professionals who misdiagnosed her cancer on both occasions. Initially, doctors attributed it to a UTI, and the second time they suspected a food intolerance or IBS.

Subsequently, a lump discovered on her stomach was identified as a pocket of infection, before the sisters learnt through the NHS app that Lauren was being referred to palliative care for cancer. Both NHS and private hospitals have informed the family that treatment is not possible, as surgery would damage her organs and other treatments would compromise her immune system.

Megan says she doesn’t know how much time her sister has left, so they are determined to create as many memories as possible. She is also urging others to persist when they know something is wrong, as she claims Lauren was sent home with antibiotics on numerous occasions.

She said: “My mum was never told that the catheter could cause cancer. I think it was a new thing, so they didn’t even know the risks then.

“Every time she called the doctors, they wouldn’t even see her, they would just put her on antibiotics and say it was a UTI. We had to keep pushing and pushing.”

Megan has now launched a fundraiser to help Lauren fulfil her dreams as they prepare for what could be her final years. Top of the bucket list is making it to Lauren’s nephews’ birthday Butlins trip in December, staying in the Port Lympne safari park animal lodges and seeing singer Dermot Kennedy perform live.

A GoFundMe page has already raised over £1,000, which Megan says is incredible, although it still falls short of covering the £1,000+ per night luxury lodges.

The mum-of-one said: “My sister is like my only friend. She is the only person I speak to.

“She has always loved animals and is desperate to go to Port Lympne and stay in the lodges where you can have the animals come up to the window. She really wants to go there so that is what we are trying to aim for. She has never wanted children, her animals are her children.

“I was very shocked when people started donating. When I told her that I started the GoFundMe she said ‘no one is going to donate for me.’ So, for her to see that people do actually care has been so nice.”

A representative for Modality East Surrey Medical Practice, which manages Lauren’s GP Birchwood Medical Practice, said: “As a practice, we have provided care for Ms Carey and her family and we will continue to support them during this very difficult time. We are truly sorry for what they are going through and our thoughts remain with them. If Ms Carey or her family have any questions or worries about the care they have received, the practice would gently encourage them to get in touch so that staff can listen, understand, and offer further help.”