17-Lb. Cyst Makes Woman Look Pregnant

(MYFOX NATIONAL) - A woman who looked pregnant really wasn't -- she had a 17-pound cancerous ovarian cyst.

According to the Daily Mail , Janet Delaney discovered the cyst last December and was repeatedly told by doctors that irritable bowel sydrome was causing her abdomen to bulge. But Delaney was doubtful of the claims. She eventually requested that an ultrasound be performed on her belly in January, which had grown from 32 inches to 49 inches. Doctors then discovered the cancerous cyst. See photos of Janet Delaney .

"I am disgusted that I was told so many times that this was irritable bowel syndrome," Delaney said. "There was no way that I had irritable bowel syndrome -- my mother suffered from that condition and her stomach was never protruding like mine did."

Many people mistook Delaney's belly for pregnancy, often offering her a seat on the bus or asking when her baby was due.

"I'm lucky that I eventually insisted on having a scan -- and the cyst was eventually found before it was too late," she said.

Doctors removed the cyst in March at Christie's Hospital in Manchester, UK, in March, and the cyst was found to be borderline cancerous. Delaney continues to undergo regular blood tests to check for cancer.

"How could anyone have missed a cyst in my stomach of that size?" Delaney wondered. "It could have cost me my life -- and I want other women to be aware of what happened to me, so hopefully it doesn't happen to anyone else."

Last August an 18-year-old girl had a 13-pound ovarian cyst was removed . Many people also thought that Sarah Borthwick was pregnant.