Pregnant mum was told she was in labour - but it was a huge cancerous cyst

A heavily pregnant woman was rushed to hospital when she felt something inside her burst.

Doctors discovered that Holly Cross wasn’t only carrying a baby, but also a 10-inch cyst. Holly five months pregnant, with husband Ray (PA)

The 23-year-old from Chatham, Kent, had been just days away from giving birth for the second time when it happened.

Tests showed that the huge cyst was ovarian cancer.

Doctors gave her the option of having the ovary, which the cyst was attached to, removed, or a full hysterectomy, in the hope of getting rid of the cancer entirely.

Holly chose the latter after deciding that she’d been fortunate enough to have a family already. Holly at 8 months pregnant, with son Liam (PA)

“I was devastated when I was told I had cancer, I thought I was going to die,” Holly says.

She’d been at home with her husband Ray, 24, and their son Liam, three, in September 2013, when she complained of feeling sick.

“I wanted the baby to be born so I could get on with feeling normal again and enjoy family life,” Holly explains. “Then I felt a popping sensation and a piercing pain in my stomach. I was doubled up in pain, struggling to breathe and thought I was having a heart attack. As I held my stomach, it felt as hard as rock.”

The paramedics told her the pains were contractions and she had gone in to labour. Holly recovering from the birth, and diagnosis, in hospital with eldest son Liam (PA)

“But I knew they were a lot worse than that,” Holly says.

At hospital doctors found the baby’s heart rate had dropped so Holly was put to sleep for an emergency caesarean section. Thankfully baby Joshua was delivered safely, weighing 7lbs, 13oz.

Doctors discovered the pains had been the cyst that had burst, and took a biopsy. A week later, Holly was told it was ovarian cancer.

She says: “Nobody knew how long it had been growing. In a way I was lucky to be pregnant as I hadn’t had any symptoms that would have made me aware I had ovarian cancer. Holly with Joshua and Liam before she started chemo (PA)

“Had it not been for Joshua, wriggling around, which I think caused the cyst to burst, it could have continued to grow and the cancer could have spread.”

She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and told she could have the ovary removed or a full hysterectomy to make sure that it didn’t spread. It would mean Holly would go into menopause aged just 22.

“I was devastated at first but I decided I’d had my two boys and didn’t want there being any chance the cancer could come back. I wanted to see my boys grow up,” she says.

On 6 November 2013, Holly had the procedure where her womb, cervix, lymph nodes, appendix and both her ovaries were removed. Holly’s last chemo session (PA)

She had chemotherapy from January to May this year, losing her hair in the process. And then she decided to take part in the Great London Swim, which takes place in a few days’ time, to raise money for charity.

Holly has now been given the all clear but will continue to have regular check-ups.

She says: “Finally I can put the past behind me and make up for lost time with my boys.”

To to Macmillian Cancer Support for more information on ovarian cancer.