Mum's worst fears realised after worrying pain was 'something more sinister'

The family of a fit and healthy mum who has been given an inoperable cancer diagnosis have spoken of their heartbreak.

Paula Friggieri was just 52 when alarm bells started to ring when she started experiencing pain going to the toilet.

The mum-of-three started treating herself for IBS but felt it was “something more sinister”. Her worst fears were confirmed when a scan unveiled cancerous cells, and she was diagnosed with bowel cancer.

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Following her diagnosis in March 2021, blood tests at The Christie showed she had a rare DPD deficiency. The condition means Paula, who lives in Manchester city centre, has an inability to detoxify and her body would only be able to cope with 50 per cent strength chemotherapy.

Paula’s daughter Ashlea became emotional as she told the Manchester Evening News: “It was like our world had fallen apart because she’s so young and you just never expect to be told that your mum has it. It was like the world had fallen under our feet.”

During her first round of chemotherapy, the treatment started attacking Paula’s bone marrow and white blood cells and had to be cut short. Following a change in her treatment, the now 53-year-old began responding well.

But in January this year, Paula was told her tumour had grown and spread to her liver. The chemotherapy had also stopped working, making her illness inoperable.

“We were just really confused because in November when she went for a scan, everything looked fine,” Ashlea, who lives in Stockport, continued.

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“The consultant said it had shrunk and she responded so well. We really believed she was