Health
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Olivia Williams: Cancer Battle, Plea for Early Detection
Olivia Williams: Actress' Cancer Battle Highlights Urgent Need for Early Detection
British actress Olivia Williams, known for roles in *The Crown* and *The Sixth Sense*, is publicly sharing her harrowing battle with pancreatic cancer to advocate for earlier diagnosis. Diagnosed in 2018 after four years of misdiagnosis, Williams endured a series of debilitating symptoms including prolonged fatigue, chronic diarrhea, and limb aches. Initially misdiagnosed with conditions such as lupus, perimenopause, and irritable bowel syndrome, she visited approximately 21 doctors before receiving the correct diagnosis. One doctor even referred her for a psychiatric assessment.
Williams's cancer, a rare VIPoma, had metastasized to her liver by the time of diagnosis, requiring extensive surgery to remove the tumor along with portions of her pancreas, spleen, gallbladder, and liver. Despite the surgery, the cancer continues to metastasize. She has undergone four rounds of Lutathera, a targeted internal radiotherapy treatment, which, while providing temporary relief, has not eliminated the cancer. Williams states that she will never be cancer-free.
The actress’s experience underscores the critical need for earlier detection of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer often presents with vague or non-specific symptoms, leading to delayed diagnosis. According to Pancreatic Cancer UK, one in four people die within a month of diagnosis. Williams is actively supporting Pancreatic Cancer UK, urging for the development and implementation of a cheap, readily available early detection test, potentially as simple as a breath test. She emphasizes that she seeks not sympathy, but a solution that could save others from a similar fate. Williams's story serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of late diagnosis and the urgent need for improved screening methods for pancreatic cancer. She has put her personal affairs in order and continues to work while undergoing treatment.
British actress Olivia Williams, known for roles in *The Crown* and *The Sixth Sense*, is publicly sharing her harrowing battle with pancreatic cancer to advocate for earlier diagnosis. Diagnosed in 2018 after four years of misdiagnosis, Williams endured a series of debilitating symptoms including prolonged fatigue, chronic diarrhea, and limb aches. Initially misdiagnosed with conditions such as lupus, perimenopause, and irritable bowel syndrome, she visited approximately 21 doctors before receiving the correct diagnosis. One doctor even referred her for a psychiatric assessment.
Williams's cancer, a rare VIPoma, had metastasized to her liver by the time of diagnosis, requiring extensive surgery to remove the tumor along with portions of her pancreas, spleen, gallbladder, and liver. Despite the surgery, the cancer continues to metastasize. She has undergone four rounds of Lutathera, a targeted internal radiotherapy treatment, which, while providing temporary relief, has not eliminated the cancer. Williams states that she will never be cancer-free.
The actress’s experience underscores the critical need for earlier detection of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer often presents with vague or non-specific symptoms, leading to delayed diagnosis. According to Pancreatic Cancer UK, one in four people die within a month of diagnosis. Williams is actively supporting Pancreatic Cancer UK, urging for the development and implementation of a cheap, readily available early detection test, potentially as simple as a breath test. She emphasizes that she seeks not sympathy, but a solution that could save others from a similar fate. Williams's story serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of late diagnosis and the urgent need for improved screening methods for pancreatic cancer. She has put her personal affairs in order and continues to work while undergoing treatment.
