Woman's holiday scan revealed cancer doctors had missed for months
Mona Thind discovered pancreatic cancer during a scan while on holiday, after months of misdiagnosis.
At 52, Mona Thind had complained of rib pain and stomach upset for months. Doctors told her it was likely constipation or poor diet.
Mona's father urged her to get a scan before she left for Byron Bay. During that holiday scan, a sonographer found the cancer.
Mona underwent six rounds of chemotherapy and major surgery over the next 15 months. Pancreatic cancer is the eighth most common cancer in Australia, affecting about one in 70 people by age 85.
Less than 13 per cent of patients survive five years, partly because early symptoms are vague and easily mistaken for other conditions. Researchers say patients often wait too long to seek help, allowing the cancer to advance.
- 52 years old
- Age at diagnosis
- 15 months
- Treatment duration
- six rounds plus major surgery
- Chemotherapy rounds
- less than 13 per cent
- Five-year survival rate
Why it mattersVague symptoms can mask serious illness; a second opinion and early scan may catch cancer before it spreads.
AustraliaPancreatic cancer affects thousands of Australians yearly; researchers are pushing for better detection and more funding to improve survival rates.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 12 d ago
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