'Doctors said my weight loss was anxiety, then I was diagnosed with cancer'
A student has shared her experience of being repeatedly dismissed by doctors, despite losing 10 kilos in just two months and suffering from severe abdominal pain. Bruna Gettert began to question herself, but eventually, a diagnosis confirmed what she had long suspected - she had cancer.
Although her condition continued to deteriorate, Bruna was prescribed antidepressants, and her symptoms were consistently overlooked. It took a whopping two years and two months for her to receive a proper diagnosis in 2023, but by then, the cancer had already spread.
Bruna was informed that she had a 10-centimetre mass in her abdomen and metastases in her liver—findings that finally explained her persistent stomach pain.
The business administration student from Caxias do Sul, Brazil, had first started experiencing symptoms at age 20, in late 2020.
Alongside heartburn, nausea, indigestion, diarrhea and intense abdominal pain, she lost 10 kilograms in just two months - dropping from 45 to 35 kilos, explains revistamarieclaire.globo.com.
Although she underwent imaging and blood tests, no major abnormalities were found. Doctors suggested her symptoms could be related to anxiety, potentially brought on by her young age and the pressures of living through a pandemic.
Before receiving her diagnosis, the student consulted at least six healthcare professionals, including GPs and gastroenterologists. She was treated for H. pylori, prescribed gastric protectors, underwent two endoscopies, had abdominal ultrasounds, and even had her gallbladder removed.
Despite all these measures, her symptoms persisted and not even the surgeon who performed the gallbladder surgery detected anything unusual.
She recalls: 'The doctors said no findings justified such intense symptoms. They said I was too young and must be anxious because of the pandemic.
"I started to believe it was all in my head. I was very debilitated but began to think I was making it up.'
She was referred to a psychiatrist and prescribed antidepressants, which provided slight relief from her lack of appetite. However, her condition deteriorated in early 2023, and she began struggling to swallow both solids and liquids.
After collapsing, she was taken to the hospital, where she was finally diagnosed with cancer. During the emergency consultation, the student recalled feeling truly validated for the first time.
Doctors ordered a blood test which revealed severe anemia and she admitted quickly. Another endoscopy uncovered a small nodule in the cardia - the area between the stomach and esophagu - which explained her difficulty swallowing.
Later that same day, a CT scan uncovered a 10-centimeter mass situated between the pancreas, retroperitoneum, and the curvature of the stomach, along with metastases in the liver.
Following a series of biopsies, the initial diagnosis was gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST). Bruna began treatment with imatinib, but it had no effect and caused severe side effects, including bleeding and vomiting blood.
A second treatment attempt with sunitinib led to a reduction in the abdominal mass, shrinking it to approximately 6 centimetres. However she recalled: "I had drug-induced hepatitis; my face swelled up; I bled from my mouth and nose; I lived in the hospital."
It was only then in March 2024, after consulting a specialist in Porto Alegre and re-analysing last year's biopsy, she discovered that the first diagnosis was wrong. The student did not have a gastrointestinal stromal tumour, but rather a well-differentiated grade 2 neuroendocrine tumour.
According to the student, the correct diagnosis had already been identified in one of the previous biopsies but was ignored by doctors for reasons she has not been made aware of.
The new diagnosis changed the therapeutic strategy. The student is on her third medication, which has stabilised her condition and alleviated symptoms, but has not cured the disease. "I am considered a palliative patient," she states.
"People say I handle everything lightly, but I just allow myself to feel. What hurts is that my complaints were invalidated because I was too young," Bruna adds.
The student took to TikTok to tell people about her experience. Speaking on the video sharing platform, @eibrunagettert shared: "I have a well-differentiated grade 2 neuroendocrine tumour, and this main tumour is located in the region of the pancreas, retroperitoneum and gastric curvature.
"It's about 7 centimetres at the moment. I discovered it when it was 10 centimetres, and managed to partially reduce it, but I also have metastases in my liver, so yes, it's in the digestive system in a way."
What is a neuroendocrine tumour?
According to Cancer Research UK: "Neuroendocrine cancers are a group of cancers that develop in cells of the neuroendocrine system. They can develop in different parts of the body, such as the stomach, bowel, pancreas or lungs."
They explain that this system is made up of nerve pathways and neuroendocrine cells. "You have neuroendocrine cells throughout your body.
"Your brain sends these nerve signals. In response they make and release hormones and similar substances. These keep our bodies working properly," they write.
There are neuroendocrine cells throughout the body. They are in almost all organs and endocrine glands, including your:
food pipe (oesophagus)
stomach
lungs
small and large bowel
pancreas
appendix
You can read more about the different type of cancer as well as its staging via the Cancer Research UK website here.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
22-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
'Doctors said my weight loss was anxiety, then I was diagnosed with cancer'
Bruna Gettert's symptoms had been dismissed by doctors A student has shared her experience of being repeatedly dismissed by doctors, despite losing 10 kilos in just two months and suffering from severe abdominal pain. Bruna Gettert began to question herself, but eventually, a diagnosis confirmed what she had long suspected - she had cancer. Although her condition continued to deteriorate, Bruna was prescribed antidepressants, and her symptoms were consistently overlooked. It took a whopping two years and two months for her to receive a proper diagnosis in 2023, but by then, the cancer had already spread. Bruna was informed that she had a 10-centimetre mass in her abdomen and metastases in her liver—findings that finally explained her persistent stomach pain. The business administration student from Caxias do Sul, Brazil, had first started experiencing symptoms at age 20, in late 2020. Alongside heartburn, nausea, indigestion, diarrhea and intense abdominal pain, she lost 10 kilograms in just two months - dropping from 45 to 35 kilos, explains Although she underwent imaging and blood tests, no major abnormalities were found. Doctors suggested her symptoms could be related to anxiety, potentially brought on by her young age and the pressures of living through a pandemic. Before receiving her diagnosis, the student consulted at least six healthcare professionals, including GPs and gastroenterologists. She was treated for H. pylori, prescribed gastric protectors, underwent two endoscopies, had abdominal ultrasounds, and even had her gallbladder removed. Despite all these measures, her symptoms persisted and not even the surgeon who performed the gallbladder surgery detected anything unusual. She recalls: 'The doctors said no findings justified such intense symptoms. They said I was too young and must be anxious because of the pandemic. "I started to believe it was all in my head. I was very debilitated but began to think I was making it up.' She was referred to a psychiatrist and prescribed antidepressants, which provided slight relief from her lack of appetite. However, her condition deteriorated in early 2023, and she began struggling to swallow both solids and liquids. After collapsing, she was taken to the hospital, where she was finally diagnosed with cancer. During the emergency consultation, the student recalled feeling truly validated for the first time. Doctors ordered a blood test which revealed severe anemia and she admitted quickly. Another endoscopy uncovered a small nodule in the cardia - the area between the stomach and esophagu - which explained her difficulty swallowing. Later that same day, a CT scan uncovered a 10-centimeter mass situated between the pancreas, retroperitoneum, and the curvature of the stomach, along with metastases in the liver. Following a series of biopsies, the initial diagnosis was gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST). Bruna began treatment with imatinib, but it had no effect and caused severe side effects, including bleeding and vomiting blood. A second treatment attempt with sunitinib led to a reduction in the abdominal mass, shrinking it to approximately 6 centimetres. However she recalled: "I had drug-induced hepatitis; my face swelled up; I bled from my mouth and nose; I lived in the hospital." It was only then in March 2024, after consulting a specialist in Porto Alegre and re-analysing last year's biopsy, she discovered that the first diagnosis was wrong. The student did not have a gastrointestinal stromal tumour, but rather a well-differentiated grade 2 neuroendocrine tumour. According to the student, the correct diagnosis had already been identified in one of the previous biopsies but was ignored by doctors for reasons she has not been made aware of. The new diagnosis changed the therapeutic strategy. The student is on her third medication, which has stabilised her condition and alleviated symptoms, but has not cured the disease. "I am considered a palliative patient," she states. "People say I handle everything lightly, but I just allow myself to feel. What hurts is that my complaints were invalidated because I was too young," Bruna adds. The student took to TikTok to tell people about her experience. Speaking on the video sharing platform, @eibrunagettert shared: "I have a well-differentiated grade 2 neuroendocrine tumour, and this main tumour is located in the region of the pancreas, retroperitoneum and gastric curvature. "It's about 7 centimetres at the moment. I discovered it when it was 10 centimetres, and managed to partially reduce it, but I also have metastases in my liver, so yes, it's in the digestive system in a way." What is a neuroendocrine tumour? According to Cancer Research UK: "Neuroendocrine cancers are a group of cancers that develop in cells of the neuroendocrine system. They can develop in different parts of the body, such as the stomach, bowel, pancreas or lungs." They explain that this system is made up of nerve pathways and neuroendocrine cells. "You have neuroendocrine cells throughout your body. "Your brain sends these nerve signals. In response they make and release hormones and similar substances. These keep our bodies working properly," they write. There are neuroendocrine cells throughout the body. They are in almost all organs and endocrine glands, including your: food pipe (oesophagus) stomach lungs small and large bowel pancreas appendix You can read more about the different type of cancer as well as its staging via the Cancer Research UK website here.
Daily Record
26-05-2025
- Daily Record
Oncology expert's cancer warning over common food eaten 2.2billion times a year in UK
Dr Tim Tiutan has warned that a certain food item can increase the risk of developing cancer. An oncology expert has issued a stark warning about a ubiquitous food item that's a staple in many British households, so much so that the UK consumes a staggering 2.2billion servings each year. Dr Tim Tiutan, an internal medicine doctor at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York, highlighted the dangers of instant noodles, drawing a connection to heightened cancer risk. Dr Tiutan explained: "High salt diets can increase cancer risk by disrupting your stomach lining and fueling H. pylori infections-a major driver of stomach cancer. Excessive salt is associated with increasing stomach cancer risk by 55 per cent and may even double the risk when H. pylori is present." He advised: "Reduce your salt intake to one teaspoon per day and try to eat high salt foods like these sparingly. Bacon, ham, hot dogs, sausages, deli meats, preserved foods, canned soups, instant noodles." The doctor added: "This isn't about fear-mongering. Small diet changes can lower cancer risk. Sodium is essential to life, but too much can be harmful. High salt intake leads to hypertension and other chronic medical conditions too. "Sometimes health providers ask patients to take in more salt for various medical reasons, which people should follow," According to NHS guidelines, individuals should not exceed 6g of salt per day to avoid serious health issues, such as heart problems, stroke, kidney disease, osteoporosis, and others. However, it's alarming that just one packet of instant noodles might contain up to 6g of salt—the full amount recommended for a whole day—accounted for in both the noodles themselves and the flavouring sachet. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a type of bacteria that infects the stomach, reports Bristol Live. It's incredibly prevalent - over half the world's population carries it - but many individuals are unaware they're infected. It harms the protective lining of the stomach, leading to gastritis, ulcers and cancer. Recent studies have discovered that excessive salt consumption boosts the risk of stomach cancer by between 41 and 100 per cent. Just a couple of months ago a medical professional warned that consuming too little salt could pose greater risks than overindulgence. Gastroenterologist Dr Saurabh Sethi has shed light on the potential consequences of eliminating salt from our diets for an extended period. While health practitioners frequently highlight the "dangers" of excessive salt intake, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, strokes, kidney damage, osteoporosis, cancer, and dementia, Dr Sethi emphasises that insufficient salt can also be "extremely harmful". According to him, salt is a vital electrolyte that aids our bodies in water retention. He explained: "Without it, you would likely experience severe dehydration [and] your blood volume will decrease significantly, leading to a drop in blood pressure". Furthermore, Dr Sethi noted that cravings for salty foods could become "very intense" if one's diet lacks adequate salt. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
NBC News
03-05-2025
- NBC News
Stomach cancer is increasingly being detected earlier, raising hopes for survival
Doctors are increasingly detecting stomach tumors at an early stage, raising hopes for lifesaving treatment for one of the deadliest types of cancer. Stomach cancer, the disease that killed country music star Toby Keith in 2024, is typically difficult to catch early and tends to be discovered at an advanced stage when cancer cells have spread, researchers reported Saturday at Digestive Disease Week, a major international conference for doctors and researchers in gastroenterology, liver diseases and endoscopy. Advances in the tools used to scrutinize the upper gastrointestinal tract have made it possible to get a clearer view of the stomach, allowing doctors to see small tumors that previously wouldn't have been detected, according to the study's lead author, Dr. Mohamed Tausif Siddiqui, a gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition fellow at the Cleveland Clinic. 'They used to be detected after they metastasized, which is why there were very poor outcomes,' Siddiqui said in an interview. 'The whole paradigm is changing, with more and more local cancers and fewer metastatic cancers being detected.' Newer endoscopes, thin tubes used to look inside the body, provide higher-definition views of the upper gastrointestinal tract, Siddiqui said. The cameras that are guided into the patient's stomach have the capacity to zoom in on suspect areas. Siddiqui and his colleagues analyzed data from the National Cancer Institute's SEER-22 database and found that diagnoses of early-stage stomach cancer rose steadily from 2004 to 2021. In contrast, more advanced cases — when the cancer had already spread to nearby lymph nodes and/or distant organs — had dropped significantly. In 2004, early-stage stomach cancer, also called gastric cancer. was detected at a rate of 1.94 per 100,000. By 2021, that number had risen to 2.97 per 100,000. That's compared to 2.55 per 100,000 for late-stage cancers detected in 2004 and 2.35 per 100,000 detected in 2021. The American Cancer Society predicts that in the U.S. in 2025, there will be around 26,500 new cases of stomach cancer diagnosed and more than 10,800 deaths. More cases of stomach cancer are being diagnosed in people ages 50 and younger, a separate study being presented at the meeting by Cleveland Clinic researchers found. What are causes and symptoms of stomach cancer? There are many factors that can raise a person's risk of developing stomach cancer, including infection with Helicobacter pyloribacteria, genetic predisposition and a history of smoking, Siddiqui said. H. pylori infections lead to inflammation in the stomach and have been shown to cause ulcers. Early signs of stomach cancer include: Acid reflux that can't be controlled with acid suppressing medications. Abdominal discomfort and excessive burping after eating. Stomach cramping. Unexplained abdominal pain. Anemia. Weight loss, with no explanation. The researchers hope that the new findings will lead to guidelines for stomach cancer screening, similar to recommendations for colon cancer. Currently in the U.S. people get checked for the di s ease only if they have symptoms or a family history of the disease. Many people don't have noticeable symptoms until the cancer has spread. Dr. Ji Yoon Yoon, a gastroenterologist and an assistant professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, said the new research could be a 'turning point' for early detection. 'What's very exciting about these findings is, for the first time, localized stomach cancers are the majority of diagnoses in the U.S.,' said Yoon, who was not affiliated with the new study. Japan and South Korea, which have higher rates of stomach cancer, have screening programs, Yoon said. 'Anybody older than 50 gets screened in Japan, and in South Korea, people aged 40 to 74 get an upper endoscopy every two years.' Early-stage gastric cancers, when confined to the stomach lining, can often be treated with minimally invasive procedures. In more advanced cases, more extensive surgery is usually required to remove part of the stomach. The overall five-year survival rate for stomach cancer is around 36%, Yoon said. For people with earlier-stage or localized cancer, the five-year survival rate is 77%. Dr. Michael Gibson, an associate professor of medicine and the director of translational research for esophagogastric cancer at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, said it's good that it's increasingly being caught early, especially since 'the incidence of gastric cancer is rising in the adolescent and young adult population.' The new study's data shows that the stage of diagnosis is getting lower within adolescent and young adult groups. While it's not clear why the patients in the study got checked for gastric cancer, it's possible some of the patients were being scanned for other reasons and the stomach cancer was picked up incidentally, he said. The new findings suggest that more patients may survive stomach cancer because it's being caught early, said Dr. Ryan Moy, a medical oncologist specializing in gastrointestinal cancers at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. 'However, we will likely need to have longer follow-up to know whether this translates into improvement in survival outcomes,' Gibson said.
