Maryann Rowe, a 57-year-old self-employed cleaner from London, was told by doctors that her vomiting, nausea, and pain were caused by anxiety. In September 2025, after a year of symptoms, a 13cm tumour was discovered, and she was diagnosed with stage three ovarian carcinosarcoma. In September 2026, doctors informed her that she may have just 12 months to live.
Repeated GP visits over nine months
Maryann, who had been taking anti-depressants for anxiety for 10 years, began experiencing sporadic vomiting and nausea in August 2024. From January 2025, she visited her GP on a regular basis, but her symptoms were initially attributed to anxiety. Over nine months, she made "countless" trips to her GP, yet neither physical examinations nor blood tests detected the tumour.
By September 2025, Maryann's daughter, Chelsea Rowe, 35, a dog groomer, said her mother was suffering from "severe abdominal pain." Chelsea called an ambulance after Maryann "wouldn't stop throwing up" for a week. At St Helier Hospital in Sutton, a doctor felt a mass in her stomach, and after a week of tests and scans, a 13cm tumour was identified.
Diagnosis and treatment at Royal Marsden
Maryann was transferred to the Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea, where she received her cancer diagnosis. She underwent a full hysterectomy in November 2025, which included HIPEC treatment—heated chemotherapy administered directly into the abdomen during the procedure. After the operation, the family learned that the stage three ovarian carcinosarcoma had spread to Maryann's bowels.
Despite two additional rounds of chemotherapy, the cancer continued to advance. In September 2026, doctors told the family that Maryann may have just 12 months to live. Maryann recalled: "It wasn't until I found out I got the 12-month diagnosis that I had a proper cry. Trying to get myself physically well again was a hard, long road... now I've got to try and get myself mentally fit. So it has taken a lot, but I'm just going to keep fighting and fighting. Hopefully, we can go beyond 12 months."
Symptoms and allergic reaction
Maryann began taking anti-depressants in 2016 after a relationship breakdown and her father's death. When she developed nausea and vomiting in summer 2024, she initially dismissed it as a sickness bug. By Christmas Day, she struggled to eat breakfast with her granddaughter, Chloe, 12, and was sick after eating. Her symptoms persisted into early 2025, and her GP attributed them to her anxiety history.
According to The Royal Marsden, symptoms of ovarian cancer can include bowel changes, abdominal bloating and pressure, fatigue, indigestion, back pain, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. Maryann's chemotherapy caused further nausea, vomiting, fatigue, hair loss, and bone pain. She also suffered two episodes of anaphylactic shock due to an allergic reaction to the treatment.
Chelsea said: "I did think at one point she was going to die. She was just on the floor in a recovery position, but she went so pink, like Patrick from SpongeBob SquarePants. It was horrific."
Fundraising for memories
On September 9, a scan showed that Maryann's cancer had progressed despite treatment. Chelsea launched a GoFundMe campaign to fund a family holiday to Spain or a UK cottage rental for Christmas and Maryann's birthday on Christmas Eve. The campaign has raised over £1,300. Chelsea wrote: "I know I can't give my mum more time, but I want to help make the time she has as happy, meaningful and full of love as possible."
Maryann is currently receiving chemotherapy before her next scan on October 29, which will determine whether the cancer has spread further. The duo are raising awareness of ovarian cancer symptoms, urging people to "get checked" if they have concerns. Maryann said: "It needs to be made aware how severe this can be. Girls need to get checked out when they get these pains or feel different to how they normally feel."
