Woman battles one-in-three-million cancer after symptoms ‘misdiagnosed as anxiety’

Madi Foster, 20, was told she had anxiety and depression before doctors discovered a 15cm tumour

A woman was diagnosed with adrenal cancer, the same condition as Lorna Luxe’s husband, and informed she had months to live after her symptoms were initially dismissed as anxiety. Madi Foster, 20, was “physically fit” but began experiencing breathlessness and reduced energy at age 17.

Her mother, Nicola Foster, 51, took her to the GP, but they claim they were informed Madi was suffering from anxiety and depression. Madi’s symptoms continued, and she began complaining of back pain and “sweating buckets”.

She was eventually rushed by ambulance to Stafford Hospital, Staffordshire, where doctors discovered her spleen was enlarged due to a 15cm tumour wrapped around it. A biopsy at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, confirmed it was adrenocortical carcinoma.

This is a one-in-a-million cancer with odds of one-in-three million for people in Madi’s age group, reports the Mirror. According to Cancer Research UK, adrenal cortical cancer (ACC) is a type of adrenal gland tumour that starts in the outer layer (cortex) of the adrenal gland. It adds: “It is not known what causes most ACC.”

Influencer Lorna Luxe recently announced her husband, John Andrews, died on Thursday following his lengthy battle with stage four adrenal cancer. Lorna, 43, confirmed John died aged 64 “at home in his own bed”.

For Madi, she had the 2kg tumour removed, but when her abdomen filled with fluid following the operation, she went into septic shock. She barely survived.

The family discovered Madi’s cancer had returned in February 2024 and was in her abdomen and liver. She was informed there was nothing more they could do and told she had 15 to 18 months to live.

But parents Nicola and Craig, 50, refused to give up hope and discovered doctors in Maryland, in the US, who would perform the operation. Strangers have contributed £45,000 to cover Madi’s travel and accommodation costs, and she underwent her first surgery last year.

Nicola, who works in medical sales, from Stafford, Staffordshire, said: “Madi constantly defies the odds. They didn’t presume a 20-year-old would have this diagnosis. It’s one-in-three million for her age group.”

Madi added: “It’s given us all hope again, when we thought there wasn’t any. My plan is to get well through the treatment they’re offering at the NIH and go on to study medicine, particularly oncology, and help other people as I have been through cancer myself. I’ve been calling my trip here a holiday because I’ve been unable to leave the country for so long and the fact that it’s such a positive experience being here too.”

Madi’s symptoms first appeared when she was a teenager

Madi says she was a healthy teenager playing for Stafford Rugby Club when her symptoms began in 2021. Nicola said: “We noticed she’d get breathless and lacked energy. We took her to the GP. She was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. They wanted to put her on antidepressants.”

Madi also reported back pain, but doctors attributed it to a urinary infection. She was also diagnosed with a high heart rate and prescribed medication to reduce it.

Madi began to feel better, but in June 2023, she fell “pretty ill”. Nicola remembered: “She was sweating buckets and complaining of back pain.”

They were informed it was another kidney infection and sent home. Madi’s condition continued to worsen, leading Nicola to call for an ambulance, and Madi was taken to the hospital.

The moment Madi was diagnosed with cancer

Upon admission, a consultant noticed a large mass on her ultrasound scan. Nicola revealed: “Her spleen was actually wrapped around the 15cm tumour and was being pushed and squashed.

“She was rushed up to Stoke and various blood tests confirmed it was cancer. They believed it was one of four rare cancers. It was horrific. We looked to see what they were and all four were pretty horrific.”

A biopsy then confirmed it was adrenocortical carcinoma – a cancer of the adrenal glands. Nicola shared: “Madi was grateful that she had a diagnosis – that it all made sense.”

In September 2023, Madi underwent surgery to remove the tumour. Nicola stated: “It was massive. There was no cancer anywhere else. She recovered relatively well.”

However, after complications from the surgery, Madi went into septic shock when her abdomen filled with five litres of fluid in November 2023. Nicola recounted: “We were told it was highly likely she wasn’t going to survive. She went into emergency surgery. She had to have heart restarted three times that night. She was multiple organ failure. She pulled though after two weeks and came home after four weeks.”

How surgery in the US saved her

Madi was unable to undergo chemotherapy during that period, and at a check-up scan in February 2024, they discovered the cancer had returned. Nicola stated: “They told me there was nothing else they could do. She was classed as stage four. She had 15 to 18 months to live.”

Madi was eventually prescribed a chemotherapy drug to slow the growth of her tumours, but Nicola refused to give up and began researching alternative options. She learnt about the National Institutes of Health in Maryland – which is funded by the US government for its research – through a Facebook group.

Nicola said: “They wanted to do whatever they could to save Madi’s life. They also discovered there was a tumour in her back.”

Madi travelled to America and underwent her first surgery to relieve pressure on her spine on August 19, 2024. She had an operation to remove half her liver and the tumours on August 27, 2024 – followed by radiation treatment on her spine.

Nicola said: “She’s got such a positive attitude. She’s never cried. She’s not let it upset her.”

Nicola says the support on their fundraiser for Madi has been “phenomenal” and strangers and friends have donated £45,000 for her ongoing treatment: www.gofundme.com/f/madi-acc-warrior.