A mum of three has died after complaining of severe stomach pain while celebrating her hen do in Magaluf.
Tragically, after mistaking her symptoms for coeliac disease, the agonising pain turned out to be terminal bowel cancer.
Sam Woodcock was diagnosed just weeks before she was due to walk down the aisle last summer and was told there was nothing more doctors could do earlier this year, The Mirror reports.
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The 36-year-old leaves behind her three children and new husband.
Sam felt something was wrong while celebrating her hen do in Magaluf, she complained of severe tummy pains however put it down to consuming different food and drink which she believed was causing her coeliac disease to flare up.
According to friends, on the final day of the four-day trip, Sam, from Gloucestershire, was in so much pain that she could barely speak or hold down sips of water.
After visiting A&E, doctors initially sent her away with medication for constipation, however the severity of her symptoms increased and she was then taken for a CT scan.
Childhood friend Natalie said: "Doctors gave her a CT scan which identified a 15 centimetre blockage and the next morning at 9am she was having emergency surgery.
"Sam was basically told after the operation she had cancer but they needed to send it off for testing."
The cancer diagnosis came just days before marrying husband Martyn, 41, in August last year.
Sam, who has sons Jayce, eight, Liam, six, and 19-year-old stepson Charlie, began chemotherapy in September.
Natalie said: "It was seen after Sam had chemotherapy, her ovaries had become enlarged and she was told it was a common side effect of chemotherapy for that to happen. However, it was a secondary cancer.
"Then in December, her medical notes were sent to a private hospital in Manchester for a second opinion.
"In January she was told the cancer was growing faster than what the chemo could do to reduce it.
"She was also referred to another hospital who said they were not prepared to operate on her until she had more chemo.
"They were worried she would not make it through the operation with the cancer as it was."
In February, Sam was told the cancer was terminal. It was planned her sons would continue to live with their stepfather but she worried for the future of her family with one wage being brought into the home.
"Me and another friend turned up to the hospital just minutes after Sam was given the terminal diagnosis," Natalie added.
"She said to us ‘I am going to die’."
Natalie has since set up a fundraising page for Sam's family to help cover costs as they grieve, so far raising more than £12,000.
"The first thing she was thinking about then was about her sons and Martyn having the money to bring them up," she said.
"So I said I would set up a Go Fund Me. Fundraisers have been held and a good sum of money has been donated to the page which means there will be less financial pressure for a little while."
Natalie also hopes that by raising the money it will improve awareness of the early signs of bowel cancer.
Natalie would like people to be aware of Sam's story and what happened to her. She feels there needs to be more awareness of the signs of bowel cancer.
She said: "Sam was never one to complain about anything and was very relaxed generally. She knew something was not right in her body and you need to fight if you feel you are not being heard.
"Sam was just the bravest woman."
To donate to the Go Fund Me page for Sam's children please visit here.
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