Woman Diagnosed With “Exceedingly Rare” Cancer after Years of Being Told By Doctors That She Had Anxiety: “I Went To Eight Different Doctors, Did All Kinds of Tests And Everybody Just Kept Telling Me I Had Anxiety”

After more than a year of suffering from heart rate and blood pressure issues, the young woman claims she realized something was wrong. She reportedly went to the hospital several times to figure out what was causing her health problems. Unfortunately, she was told by doctors that she had anxiety and that she was too young to have cancer.

She also stated that her disease is so uncommon that no prognosis exists and no one knows what to expect. She also stated that she does not hold the first doctors responsible for their comments prior to her diagnosis.

Katie Coleman, a young Texas software developer, told The Today Show that she was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer in 2020.

The young woman often shares updates about her condition on her social media account: “17 months ago I broke down on the bathroom floor after I was dx w/stage iv cancer & dr google only gave me an 18-month prognosis. Tonight I celebrate my 31st bday w/my husband & this incredible view in a v. diff place. I look fwd to proving google wrong. So grateful for this life.”

As per Chattanoogadailynews, Coleman was diagnosed with oncocytoma, a benign tumor, despite having no other health issues. Due to the rarity of her tumor, the doctors said it took some time for her to get her first diagnosis.

During an interview with The Today Show, the young software developer revealed that she had visited eight doctors because she had high blood pressure and a fast heart rate.

Unfortunately, two doctors told her she was too young to be diagnosed with cancer. Coleman admitted that she had suffered from anxiety throughout her life, but this was different.

“I went to eight different doctors, did all kinds of tests and everybody just kept telling me I had anxiety. Two doctors told me I was too young for cancer when I asked. It made me feel like a hypochondriac.” Coleman said.

Coleman then deliberately lost weight to see if it would help her feel better. However, as she lost weight, she complained of a hard mass in her abdomen, according to The Today Show.

The young woman was diagnosed with a rare type of renal cell carcinoma after a CT scan in December 2020. Doctors discovered a 5-inch mass on her kidney and several tumors in my liver, according to reports.

Coleman’s right kidney was removed six months later, and her liver was resected several times. Coleman still has tumors in her liver, but they have remained stable, she told TODAY.

During an interview with The Today Show, Coleman explained that her cancer is so rare that there is no real prognosis and no one knows what to expect.

She also stated that she does not hold the first doctors responsible for their comments prior to her diagnosis. According to the young software developer, she appeared to them as an anxious patient.

Coleman says she uses social media platforms to connect with other patients and share raw emotions as well as journey tips with others.

The young woman shared on her Twitter account: “The type of cancer I have is “exceedingly rare”. Case reports are in the single digits, worldwide, in history. So when I got dx, I felt incredibly isolated & alone. I searched endlessly for info only to come up empty again & again.

So I vowed that I would share everything about my case from that day fwd. So that in the unlikely event anyone found themselves in my shoe one day, they’d have another case to look to and wouldn’t feel so alone.

I’m painfully introverted & no one special, so this felt both unnatural & like a futile effort but I didn’t let that stop me, I started dropping bread crumbs. 1.5 yrs later, I entered the same search I did the night of my dx & it no longer comes up empty.

I never want anyone to walk in my shoes but I hope they find this someday if they do, so many onions cut over here.”