Cancer touches nearly every family, and yet too often, early warning signs are brushed off. Now, one young woman is speaking out in a heartbreaking viral video after doctors ignored her symptoms for months — only to discover she had a 12-centimeter tumor pressing on her spine.
TikToker Hannah, who runs a travel account with her husband Charlie, is sharing her painful journey to raise awareness about medical dismissal — and why trusting your gut could save your life.
“I was medically gaslit for 8 months”
Back in 2021, Hannah started experiencing troubling symptoms: a lingering cough, a full-body rash, constant exhaustion, and sudden weight loss. At the time, she thought dropping pounds was “a total slay,” but her body was screaming for help.
“I was medically gas-lit for over eight months which led to a late diagnosis of stage four cancer,” she shared. “So no, me and my GP are not the best of friends.”
Despite multiple calls and worsening symptoms, her concerns were repeatedly brushed off. She was prescribed antibiotics and told to follow up only if things got worse. Spoiler alert — they did.
“I was refused an in-person appointment—pretty sure if there was a ‘hypochondriac button’ on their computer, they clicked it,” she said sarcastically.
Told it was “period pain” — then rushed to ER
As months passed, Hannah developed pneumonia because the tumor was pressing on her chest. She pushed through the pain, trying to convince herself it wasn’t serious. But eventually, it became unbearable.
Clutching her chest in agony, she rushed to the emergency room with what was thought to be a heart attack. Instead of fast-tracking her, a receptionist dismissed her condition as “period pains.”
“If that doesn’t just scream ‘misogyny,’ I don’t know what does,” Hannah said.
Thankfully, an observant nurse saw her in distress and took action. An X-ray showed a large shadow, and a CT scan confirmed the devastating news — Hannah had stage four cancer.
“By the time anyone listened, it was stage four”
The diagnosis came almost a year after her first cry for help. In a TikTok caption, she summed up her nightmare:
“I was medically gaslit for 8 months… and it nearly cost me my life. I was dismissed with antibiotics, told I was dramatic, and refused scans, while a 12cm tumor was crushing my lungs and heart.”
“By the time anyone listened, it was stage four cancer. Eight months of chemo later, I’m still here. But it never should have got that far.”
Her message: Don’t let them dismiss you
Hannah has since undergone eight months of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and joined a clinical trial. She’s now using her platform to help others avoid the same fate.
“This is your reminder to fight for answers,” she urged. “If they won’t give you a test, ask them to write it in your notes. It might save your life.”
Hannah’s story is a chilling wake-up call about medical dismissal — especially for young women — and a powerful reminder to never stop advocating for yourself.
