Young Mother Faces Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis Following Delayed Medical Attention
Kanisha Collins, 24, diagnosed with terminal cancer after being dismissed by medical professionals due to her age.
Kanisha Collins, a 24-year-old mother from the United Kingdom, has made headlines by sharing her story of a devastating late-stage pancreatic cancer diagnosis, which she attributes to the medical system's age-related biases.
Collins reported that she was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer after experiencing significant delays in her diagnosis due to a perceived misconception that someone her age could not possibly have such a serious illness.
Her health challenges began in December 2024 when she was admitted to Chesterfield Royal Hospital for pancreatitis.
Medical examinations revealed a mass on her pancreas.
Despite consultations with specialists from an oncology center, Collins was repeatedly reassured that the mass was benign, and no further action was taken to investigate her symptoms thoroughly.
Collins continued to experience escalating pain and underwent a CT scan in February 2025, which confirmed that the mass was still present and a blood clot in the area had worsened.
Nevertheless, a biopsy was not ordered, prolonging her distress.
The critical diagnosis came on May 19, 2025, after she was transferred to another hospital for urgent care.
There, doctors discovered additional lesions in her liver, leading to a biopsy that confirmed the presence of stage 4 pancreatic cancer with liver metastasis.
Collins expressed her frustration regarding the delayed investigation of her condition, suggesting that the medical staff's reluctance to take her symptoms seriously was rooted in their disbelief that pancreatic cancer could affect someone so young.
She stated, "I feel let down by both hospitals in a way...
They didn't do it because of my age.
Unfortunately, by the time I was informed, it was already TOO LATE AND INCURABLE."
As her health deteriorates, her personal circumstances have also changed drastically.
Collins had been planning a wedding to her partner, Mason, which coincided with the start of her chemotherapy treatment.
She has voiced her heartbreak over the impact of her diagnosis on her two-year-old daughter, Amaya, stating that her future aspirations have been irrevocably altered.
Accompanying her through this journey is her father, Dean, who initiated a GoFundMe campaign to help alleviate financial burdens and provide memorable experiences for the family.
Collins has expressed a desire for a family vacation in Cornwall, her favorite destination, and hopes to create lasting memories with her daughter if her health improves through treatment.
Pancreatic cancer is a particularly challenging form of cancer that develops in the pancreas, an organ located behind the stomach.
It is frequently difficult to diagnose in its early stages due to the absence of noticeable symptoms until the disease has progressed.
Risk factors include smoking, type 2 diabetes, and family history of the disease.
Common symptoms may involve abdominal or back pain and unexplained weight loss.
As it often presents at an advanced stage, it is considered one of the most difficult cancers to treat.
Collins reported that she was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer after experiencing significant delays in her diagnosis due to a perceived misconception that someone her age could not possibly have such a serious illness.
Her health challenges began in December 2024 when she was admitted to Chesterfield Royal Hospital for pancreatitis.
Medical examinations revealed a mass on her pancreas.
Despite consultations with specialists from an oncology center, Collins was repeatedly reassured that the mass was benign, and no further action was taken to investigate her symptoms thoroughly.
Collins continued to experience escalating pain and underwent a CT scan in February 2025, which confirmed that the mass was still present and a blood clot in the area had worsened.
Nevertheless, a biopsy was not ordered, prolonging her distress.
The critical diagnosis came on May 19, 2025, after she was transferred to another hospital for urgent care.
There, doctors discovered additional lesions in her liver, leading to a biopsy that confirmed the presence of stage 4 pancreatic cancer with liver metastasis.
Collins expressed her frustration regarding the delayed investigation of her condition, suggesting that the medical staff's reluctance to take her symptoms seriously was rooted in their disbelief that pancreatic cancer could affect someone so young.
She stated, "I feel let down by both hospitals in a way...
They didn't do it because of my age.
Unfortunately, by the time I was informed, it was already TOO LATE AND INCURABLE."
As her health deteriorates, her personal circumstances have also changed drastically.
Collins had been planning a wedding to her partner, Mason, which coincided with the start of her chemotherapy treatment.
She has voiced her heartbreak over the impact of her diagnosis on her two-year-old daughter, Amaya, stating that her future aspirations have been irrevocably altered.
Accompanying her through this journey is her father, Dean, who initiated a GoFundMe campaign to help alleviate financial burdens and provide memorable experiences for the family.
Collins has expressed a desire for a family vacation in Cornwall, her favorite destination, and hopes to create lasting memories with her daughter if her health improves through treatment.
Pancreatic cancer is a particularly challenging form of cancer that develops in the pancreas, an organ located behind the stomach.
It is frequently difficult to diagnose in its early stages due to the absence of noticeable symptoms until the disease has progressed.
Risk factors include smoking, type 2 diabetes, and family history of the disease.
Common symptoms may involve abdominal or back pain and unexplained weight loss.
As it often presents at an advanced stage, it is considered one of the most difficult cancers to treat.
