This 22-Year-Old Woman Died After Doctors Mistook A Tumor For Pregnancy

A British woman died after doctors reportedly mistook a cancerous tumor for pregnancy.

According to Huffington Post, 22-year-old Demi Wright went to the hospital in November 2015 due to pains in her side and was admitted to the maternity ward because she was producing hormones similar to those present in women who are pregnant.

Doctors eventually realized, however, the hormones were actually being emitted by a 12-centimeter tumor.

The makeup artist was diagnosed with terminal adenocarcinoma, a very aggressive cancer of glandular tissue, that had already spread throughout her body.

Wright died on February 23, just three weeks after being transferred to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, England.

Her father said,

When we found out [the cancer] was terminal, she lifted herself up, she patted the bed and said, 'Dad, come and sit here.' She gave me a big hug and said, 'It's going to be OK.' The next day, she passed away.

Dr. Helen Webberley, a general practitioner for Oxford Online Pharmacy, said Wright experienced what is known as a molar pregnancy.

She told Huffington Post,

Initially, a molar pregnancy acts in the same way as a conventional pregnancy, tests are positive due to the release of the HDG hormone and there is a growth in the uterus. It is only when the patient comes for their 12-week scan that a molar pregnancy is detected.

The chances of patients developing cancer after a molar pregnancy are small, and most people can be cured by treatment, Dr. Webberley explained.

It remains unclear exactly how long Wright remained in the maternity ward before doctors discovered the cancer.

Wright's family set up a JustGiving page to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

As of this morning, the equivalent of approximately $4,700 has been raised.

Citations: Makeup Artist Demi Wright Dies From Aggressive Tumour Originally Mistaken For Pregnancy (Huffington Post), "We feel robbed": Tributes flood in to 22-year-old Demi Wright who died of aggressive cancer (Daily Gazette)