When Alison Varley first felt short of breath, she assumed it was a chest infection. But what doctors later discovered changed everything — and made her the first known person on Earth with a uniquely aggressive cancer.
The 42-year-old mother from Ossett, West Yorkshire, was diagnosed in 2021 with a rare form of goblet cell carcinoma — a disease so unusual that doctors say no one else has her exact genetic mutation. What began as chest pain soon revealed tumors spreading through her appendix, ovaries, rectum, and abdomen.
“I’m absolutely terrified,” Alison admitted. “Doctors told me there’s no one like me. They’re struggling because there’s no roadmap.”
She had surgery to remove her appendix and later a full hysterectomy. For a short while, immunotherapy gave her hope — shrinking some tumors — but it soon triggered a reaction that made the cancer grow again. Now, as she begins chemotherapy, she confesses, “I don’t know if it’s going to work. I just want more time with my kids.”
Her husband Matthew has taken unpaid leave to care for their young daughters, Daisy and Delilah. Friends quickly rallied to create a fundraising page, raising thousands to help cover food and heating bills while Alison fights for her life.
Despite her fear, her courage shines through. “When I’m too weak to move,” she said, “knowing my kids have food in the cupboards means everything.”
It’s a story of heartbreak — and of love powerful enough to keep fighting the unknown.
