Gran, 55, whose 2st weight gain was blamed on fibroids ‘devastated’ as she’s given months to live
A GRAN who was initially told she had fibroids was diagnosed with terminal cancer – and weight gain was one of the first signs.
Julie Butler, 55, was diagnosed with fibroids – non-cancerous growth – after gaining two stone and experiencing pain in her abdomen.
The mum-of-two was told she needed a hysterectomy but didn’t have the surgery for another two years due to Covid delays and struggled with bloating and walking.
But in September 2022, she was admitted to the hospital with a bowel blockage – where they removed her lower bowel and two unexpected tumours.
The tumours were sent off for a biopsy, and Julie was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer.
A year later Julie was diagnosed with stage four cancer and was told it has spread to her lung, liver and spleen.
Despite chemotherapy the cancer is still growing and her husband Robert Butler, 54, is now looking to fundraise £40k for a life saving treatment called Trans arterial chemoembolization (TACE).
The treatment delivers chemotherapy directly into the blood vessels feeding a tumour, and then blocks the blood supply to the tumour.
TACE is available on the NHS for the treatment of primary liver cancer, but Julie’s liver cancer is secondary, meaning she is not eligible for the treatment.
Julie, a catering assistant, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, said: “When I was diagnosed with stage four cancer, I was devastated.
“I have a granddaughter, and I was thinking about how I wanted to see her grow up.
“The day I got told I was stage four, I was worried I would never see her in her first school uniform.
“I was worried that I would not be able to see her grow up.
“We are at the point where the chemotherapy is not working for me, and we need to try something new.”
In 2020, Julie noticed she had gained two stone, which was unusual for her, and was also experiencing pain in her abdomen.
She went to her GP, who carried out an ultrasound and hysteroscopy .
Julie was diagnosed with fibroids in March 2020 and told she would need a hysterectomy.
Due to Covid delays, Julie didn’t have her hysterectomy until July 2022.
I was bloated all the time, it looked like I was nine months pregnant
Julie Butler
Julie said: “In those two years, I could barely walk, but doctors couldn’t put a finger on it.
“I was bloated all the time, it looked like I was nine months pregnant.”
After the hysterectomy, Julie was still experiencing extreme bloating.
During a meeting to see how Julie was doing since the hysterectomy, a scan revealed that she had a blockage in her bowel and she was sent for an operation.
Julie said: “During the operation, they removed my lower bowel, and found that I had two tumours that were causing the problem.
“They said the tumours had gone into my lymph nodes, so they removed them too.
“They told me it was cancer but sent the tumours off for a biopsy to double check.”
‘Three months to live’
The biopsy confirmed that Julie had bowel cancer, and doctors told them they were 95 per cent sure they had removed all the cancer, but couldn’t be certain.
Doctors advised that Julie should start chemotherapy, but after two major operations, she was too ill.
A year later, Julie started to feel ill again, so she went for an MRI, CT and PET scan in April 2023.
The scans showed that the cancer had spread to her lung, liver and spleen and given a stage four diagnosis.
On the same day, Julie was told she had three months to live, but she has surpassed that prognosis.
Julie said: “Being told you have three months to live is devastating.
Being told you have three months to live is devastating. It was a horrible thing to experience, I can’t explain it
Julie Butler
“It was a horrible thing to experience, I can’t explain it.”
Julie then started on chemotherapy in July 2024 and finished in April 2025.
Despite being given three different types of chemotherapy, Julie’s cancer is continuing to grow.
Her husband, Robert, a hedge cutter, said: “The chemo has been very aggressive, but the doctors have told us it is not ready.
“The NHS wants to try a fourth chemo, but it is a catch-22 situation.
“Her liver is in serious trouble. If we carry on with the chemo and it doesn’t work, she will end up with liver failure.”
The couple are hoping to fly out to Germany for TACE but need to raise £40k to do so.
Robert said: “We have no choice now, we need to try it.
“If we don’t try this, Julie is going to die, we have to do it.
“We are waiting for some blood test results to come back before we fly over there, we are hoping to head over there soon.
“My faith in the world has been restored. We have been in such a dark place for so long.
“The fact that people have been donating to help Julie shows that angels exist and there are good people out there.”
To donate to the funding page, click here.
What are the red flag warning signs of bowel cancer?
IT'S the fourth most common cancer in the UK, the second deadliest - yet bowel cancer can be cured, if you catch it early enough.
While screening is one way of ensuring early diagnosis, there are things everyone can do to reduce their risk of the deadly disease.
Being aware of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer, spotting any changes and checking with your GP can prove a life-saver.
If you notice any of the signs, don’t be embarrassed and don’t ignore them. Doctors are used to seeing lots of patients with bowel problems.
The five red-flag symptoms of bowel cancer include:
- Bleeding from the back passage, or blood in your poo
- A change in your normal toilet habits – going more frequently for example
- Pain or a lump in your tummy
- Extreme tiredness
- Losing weight
Tumours in the bowel typically bleed, which can cause a shortage of red blood cells, known as anaemia. It can cause tiredness and sometimes breathlessness.
In some cases bowel cancer can block the bowel, this is known as a bowel obstruction.
Other signs include:
- Gripping pains in the abdomen
- Feeling bloated
- Constipation and being unable to pass wind
- Being sick
- Feeling like you need to strain – like doing a number two – but after you’ve been to the loo
While these are all signs to watch out for, experts warn the most serious is noticing blood in your stools.
But, they warn it can prove tricky for doctors to diagnose the disease, because in most cases these symptoms will be a sign of a less serious disease.