Sian Ashcroft, a mother of three living in the UK, was treated for what was thought to be food poisoning or gallstones due to stomach pains. However, she was actually a patient of cholangiocarcinoma, a deadly type of liver cancer. Unfortunately, just 18 days after the diagnosis, she passed away at the age of 35.In 2023, the first warning sign on Ashcroft’s body was noticed by a healthcare worker, which was an iron deficiency. This condition, a known complication of liver cancer, can affect blood clotting, leading to bleeding from minor injuries and iron loss. However, Ashcroft disregarded it and started using iron supplements.In August 2023, she visited a doctor due to worsening stomach pains, suspected to be food poisoning. Tests raised suspicions of gallstones, and surgery was performed to dilate the bile duct. However, shortly after, doctors revealed a 2 cm growth in her liver and a few small lesions in the scans.Despite the symptoms and doctors’ concerns, an exact diagnosis was not made for two months. Finally, in January 2024, she was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma. However, the cancer was at an advanced stage, and doctors stated she had only two months left. Ashcroft passed away 18 days after the diagnosis.Her mother, Sue Dowling, said in a statement to the BBC, “Sian’s diagnosis was a huge shock for all of us. Despite her condition worsening, the diagnosis was made very late and it was not possible to save her.”According to the NHS, symptoms of CCA include fatigue, high fever, jaundice, loss of appetite, nausea, and abdominal pain. Cancer Research states that approximately 3,100 people in the UK are diagnosed with this disease each year, with only 2% to 9% of patients surviving for five years or longer.Symptoms of cholangiocarcinoma indicate that cases are usually diagnosed in advanced stages. It highlights that doctors may sometimes be unaware of available treatment methods, resulting in over half of patients not receiving any cancer treatment.Unlike other types of liver cancer, this disease may not have a direct link to lifestyle factors such as cirrhosis, viral hepatitis, or alcohol, emphasizing the need for better recognition of the disease.