A young woman from Gloucester has revealed how doctors initially dismissed her severe bloating and pain as simply "women's problems," only for her to be diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of stomach cancer.
A Battle for Diagnosis
In 2019, Bella Bayliss, then 25, began experiencing alarming symptoms including persistent stomach bloating, pain, breathlessness, and tingling in her hands and legs. Despite her concerns, a visit to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital's A&E department reportedly led to her being sent home with her symptoms attributed to gynaecological issues.
"I went to hospital because I was extremely anaemic, they sent me home and blamed it on women's problems," Bella recalled. "I knew it wasn't that." Her condition worsened to the point where she struggled to eat even a small portion of her Christmas dinner, yet the debilitating symptoms persisted.
The Devastating Discovery
Convinced something was seriously wrong, Bella returned to hospital and insisted on further investigation. An endoscopy finally revealed the shocking truth: a 6cm tumour in her stomach. She was diagnosed with a Gastro-Intestinal Stromal Tumour (GIST), a rare type of sarcoma that develops in the wall of the digestive system.
Weeks after the diagnosis, Bella underwent major surgery to remove the cancer and 70% of her stomach. For nearly six years, she believed the ordeal was behind her. However, in October 2025, she received the devastating news that the cancer had returned, requiring further surgery.
"At first I was shocked because after five years you think it's a part of your life you can put behind you," said Bella, who works as a transport assistant administrator. "This time it felt different, I think you worry when it comes back."
Life After Surgery and a Plea for Awareness
The latest operation has left Bella with ongoing challenges, including difficulty digesting dairy and large meals, and coping with the impact of the scar on her confidence. She explains that for her specific cancer, there is currently no medication available, making surgery the only treatment option.
Bella is now sharing her story to raise awareness of GIST and to encourage others to advocate for their health. She wants to remind people across the UK to listen to their bodies and persist if they feel something is not right.
In response to Bella's experience, a spokesperson for Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: "We are very sorry to hear that Miss Bayliss's cancer has returned, and we understand how distressing this must be. We are also sorry about the experience she had with her care in 2019 and 2020. Isabella's condition is rare and diagnosis requires a high degree of clinical suspicion. We have used her experience to reinforce the importance of appropriate investigation in similar situations."
