Georgia Gardiner never imagined her persistent heartburn could be something life-threatening. The 28-year-old mother from Leeds first noticed stomach pains and nausea last year, but doctors repeatedly dismissed her symptoms as acid reflux.
At first, Georgia trusted the diagnosis. She took the prescribed medication, but her condition only worsened. “I couldn’t keep food down and lost my appetite completely,” she shared. “I love food—I’m a massive foodie—but my body was rejecting everything.” The pain became unbearable, sharp and constant in her upper stomach. Over months, she visited her doctor and local hospital six to nine times, each time being told it was just acid reflux.
By the time doctors finally ordered an endoscopy, the truth was devastating. Georgia had gastric cancer—specifically, linitis plastica, a rare and aggressive form that had already spread to her lymph nodes and other organs. The prognosis was grim: her cancer was incurable, with doctors giving her just 12 months to live.
“When they said it was incurable, I went into complete shock,” Georgia admitted. “I didn’t speak or leave the house for three days. My whole world crumbled.” Now, she’s determined to make the most of her time left with her two-year-old son, Arlo, while urging others to trust their instincts. “If I’d been taken seriously earlier, maybe we could’ve stopped it from spreading,” she said. “Push for answers—don’t stop until you get them.”
