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23rd May 2025
04:10pm BST
Boxer Georgia O'Connor said that doctors dismissed her cancer symptoms months before dying aged 25
The professional boxer passed away yesterday, May 22, at the age of 25.
She revealed in January that she had been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, as well as terminal cancer.
On Instagram at the time, she wrote: "There’s really no easy way to say this, but I have cancer.
"Now that’s out the way, it’s time to expose the absolute incompetent RATS that have allowed this to happen."
O'Connor revealed that she was in pain for 17 weeks and made multiple trips to the hospital and doctors.
She continued to say that she knew something was seriously wrong, and highlighted that she was already a cancer-risk due to her colitis.
"But not one doctor f***ing listened to me," she added.
"Not one doctor took me seriously. Not one doctor did the scans or blood tests I begged for whilst crying on the floor in agony.
"Instead, they dismissed me. They gaslit me, told me it was nothing, made me feel like I was overreacting. They refused to scan me. They refused to investigate. They REFUSED to listen. One even told me that it’s 'all in my head," continued the boxer.
She made the heartbreaking revelation at the time that not only had the cancer spread, but potentially fatal blood clots were found in her lungs.
O'Connor continued sharing her frustrations with the health system.
"They could have done something before it got to this stage.
"They can say it’s terminal all they want. They can tell me I’m going to die. But after taking 17, SEVENTEEN weeks to even figure out what was wrong with me, why the f*** should I believe them?" she wrote.
The Durham fighter was a highly decorated amateur boxer, winning a gold medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games back in 2017.
She signed with Ben Shalom's Boxxer when she turned professional winning all of her three fights.
Boxxer said in a statement: "We are heartbroken by the passing of Georgia O'Connor. A true warrior inside and outside the ring, the boxing community has lost a talented, courageous and determined young woman far too soon.
"Georgia was loved, respected and admired by her friends here at Boxxer. Our thoughts are with her loved ones at this difficult time."
Two weeks ago she announced that she had married her boyfriend and changed her surname to Cardinali.
England Boxing said: "A gifted boxer and beloved member of the amateur boxing community, she won medals at the Commonwealth Youth Games, Youth Worlds and European Championships."
