Woman Diagnosed With Terminal Cancer After Dismissed Heartburn Symptoms

Georgia Gardiner, a 28-year-old mother from Leeds, was given just 12 months to live after her persistent “heartburn” symptoms were revealed to be an aggressive form of stomach cancer.

Last year, Georgia began experiencing intense stomach pains and frequent vomiting. Despite visiting her doctor and local hospital multiple times, she was repeatedly told it was acid reflux and prescribed antacids. Her condition worsened — she lost nearly three stone, couldn’t eat properly, and suffered from sharp, constant upper stomach pain.

“I love food, I’m a massive foodie,” she said. “But my body was rejecting everything.”

It wasn’t until months later that she was finally referred for an endoscopy, which revealed she had gastric cancer. Specifically, she was diagnosed with linitis plastica — a rare and aggressive type of adenocarcinoma — which had already spread to her lymph nodes and other organs.

Her cancer is incurable, and doctors estimate she has just a year to live. “After the first appointment, we were full of hope,” Georgia said. “Then when they said it was incurable, I went into complete shock.”

Now focused on creating lasting memories with her two-year-old son, Arlo, Georgia’s family is raising funds for treatments and adventures.

She urges others to advocate for themselves: “If I’d been taken seriously earlier, maybe we could have caught it in time. Push for answers. Don’t stop if something doesn’t feel right.”