Chichester mother misdiagnoses cancer symptoms as diet effects

Camilla Chapman, a 40-year-old mother from Chichester, was diagnosed with stage four stomach cancer after mistaking her difficulty swallowing for a diet side effect. Her cancer has spread to her lungs, liver, and lymph nodes, making it inoperable. Chapman first noticed symptoms in March 2024 but did not seek medical help until January 2025. After several consultations and tests, she received her diagnosis in February 2025 and was offered only palliative chemotherapy. She is now urging others to pay attention to unusual symptoms, like difficulty swallowing, and seek medical advice promptly. Stomach cancer is often diagnosed late, with only 20% of stage four patients surviving for a year or more.