Doctors kept telling mum she had constipation - months later she was dead

The heartbroken family of a mum whose pancreatic cancer was repeatedly mistaken for constipation are now urging other people to get checked out if they think there is something wrong with their body.

Toni Rankin first started experiencing pain in her abdomen in September 2024 and her symptoms meant she was unable to ride her bike or go out on walks in the countryside. The concerned mum-of-four, from Bollington in Cheshire, decided to visit her doctor, who told her not to worry as the pain was likely caused by constipation.

However, since the pain didn't go away, Toni continue visiting her GP - only to be given the same diagnosis. Since she trusted the advice she was given, Toni continued her life as normal until her pain became too severe.

She was eventually given a pelvic scan which showed markers on her liver, prompting medics to investigate further. The mum was referred for an MRI scan just days before Christmas which confirmed her worst fears – she had stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Now, speaking on behalf of Toni's devastated family, her lifelong friend Clare Reoch has revealed the moment she discovered she was unwell. She told the Manchester Evening News: "It was shocking because she didn't really say much to me. She told me she was poorly, but I didn't know the severity of it.

"I moved away in November to Scotland, but we had made plans for the summer for her to come up here. It was shocking." Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed late because symptoms can be vague or mistaken for other conditions. Symptoms include persistent abdominal or back pain, unexplained weight loss, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea or vomiting and changes to bowel habits.

Sadly, during her diagnosis, Toni learned the cancer had spread to her liver. Later appointments showed it had also spread to a lymph node in her neck. As Toni's condition worsened, she was taken to the hospital with jaundice and underwent a procedure to remove a blockage from her bile duct, a tiny canal that connects some of the organs in the digestive system, but sadly this didn't ease her pain.

Due to her poor health, Toni only managed to have one round of chemotherapy. The mum stopped eating and kept vomiting, and she was rushed to hospital on the evening of February 9. Sadly, not long after she arrived, doctors called Toni's family and told them to say their goodbyes.

She passed away at the age of 45 in the early hours of February 10. Clare said: "They said it was constipation. This is why her family want to raise awareness and for people to get checked out if they think there’s something wrong with their body. Chemo was the only thing offered. From the process of organising chemo, she was supposed to have it – they just didn't realise how fast she would decline. She barely got the chance to start chemo. There was no cure. We all made plans for summer for her to do things and see people.

"She declined rapidly and her pain was unbearable. She wasn't able to eat and was being sick constantly until her daughter called for an ambulance. She wasn't able to take medication. At 10pm on February 9, doctors phoned the family to say she had declined rapidly and it was time to come in and say goodbye.

"She passed away on the February 10 at 1.15am. Only a few hours later, she had gone. It happened so fast. There was nothing anyone could do to stop it." Mum-of-six Clare, who works as a carer, described Toni as "the most amazing friend ever" and said she "lit up a room" with her "contagious" laugh.

Clare added: "We were really good friends in college, then came apart for a decade. Then, through Facebook, we got back in contact. It was like we had never been apart. It was like it was always the same. She was funny and she loved going to the gym regularly. It was one of her hobbies. She loved to go and work out.

"She just loved to go out for walks. She loved living in the countryside. Toni lived and breathed for her children from the second she became a mum, and that was her life. She had a grandson, who she doted on as well. She was thrilled when he came along. She leaves him behind as well.

"She had so many amazing friends that will miss her dearly. Everyone is doing whatever they can to help at such a difficult time." A fundraiser has now been created to help support Toni's family. You can donate here.