Olivia Williams reveals late cancer diagnosis means lifelong battle

Olivia Williams, known for her roles in The Crown and The Sixth Sense, recently opened up about her difficult journey with pancreatic cancer. She revealed that for years, doctors misdiagnosed her and dismissed her symptoms, which led to a delay in proper treatment.

Supporting Cancer Awareness

According to Deadline, Olivia Williams is now supporting Pancreatic Cancer UK, a charity dedicated to spreading awareness and funding research to fight the disease.

Olivia Williams was diagnosed with VIPoma, a rare type of pancreatic tumour, after seeing 10 doctors across three countries over a span of four years.

Years of Misdiagnoses

Before receiving the correct diagnosis, Olivia Williams was wrongly told she had lupus, perimenopause, and other types of cancer. At one point, she was even sent for a psychiatric evaluation.

Frustration Over Missed Opportunity

Olivia Williams expressed frustration over the delayed diagnosis, saying that if doctors had identified her illness earlier, one surgery might have removed the tumour completely. As a result of the delay, she shared that she can never be considered cancer-free now.

Olivia Williams has undergone multiple surgeries to remove the tumour and affected organs. However, by the time it was diagnosed, the cancer had already spread to other parts of her body.

Ongoing Treatment and Advocacy

Olivia Williams is currently receiving treatment, which includes targeted internal radiotherapy. She is actively advocating for the development of an affordable and early detection test for pancreatic cancer. Emphasizing awareness, she stated that she doesn’t seek sympathy, but wants a simple, cost-effective way to catch the disease early.

Olivia Williams is backing Pancreatic Cancer UK as the chosen charity of the year for the TCS London Marathon, aiming to raise awareness and support early detection efforts for the disease.