Woman thought she had a stomach virus and when she went to the doctor she was diagnosed with advanced cancer: 'I was bedridden for three days vomiting'

Tahnee Driver, 39, a wellness coach in aged care facilities and mother of two daughters – Zahlia, 8, and Harmony, 6 – was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in June 2025. A resident of Australia’s Mornington Peninsula, she had gotten back into a healthy, active routine.

"I was focused on myself and trying to be the best version of myself, staying active, playing basketball, hiking, lifting weights, and doing all the good things. I felt great," she told FEMAIL.

However, symptoms began appearing earlier this year: sudden bloating and stomach pain after some meals. Tahnee attributed this to her diet, believing it was due to too many onions or dairy products.

After a visit to a food market, Tahnee became seriously ill.

"I was bedridden for three days, vomiting, but I honestly thought it was just a virus or food poisoning," she said.

On the fourth day, concerned by the persistence of her symptoms, she called an ambulance. The paramedics agreed it could be a stomach virus and recommended rest. However, the vomiting continued for another three days.

Tahnee went to her GP. "I drove myself to the office, exhausted, dehydrated, and delirious. They called an ambulance immediately and took me to the hospital. I honestly thought it would only be a 10-minute visit to the doctor to get me Gaviscon or something."

That same night, after tests and an MRI, doctors detected a tumor the size of a tennis ball in her abdomen.

Two days later, she underwent surgery. Doctors initially thought the tumor could be removed, but they found a more complex picture.

"My cancer was quite aggressive and had already spread to the lining of my stomach, lymph nodes, pelvis, and liver ," Tahnee explained.

Although the terminal nature of the disease was not mentioned during the operation, during a follow-up appointment with an oncologist two weeks later, the truth was revealed.

"They told me it's incurable and that chemotherapy will treat it, but only for a limited time," he said.

Breaking the news to his daughters was one of the hardest moments.

"I wasn't sure when or how to have the conversation. But one morning, while I was making breakfast, I turned to Zahlia and said, 'Your dad and I have something to tell you.'"

"He just looked at me and asked, 'Do you have cancer?'" Tahnee recalled. "I was speechless."

At that moment, a postman interrupted the scene by delivering a package from the cancer charity Mummy's Wish, containing comforting stuffed animals and books for her daughters. "It was just what we needed at that moment," she said. "A little ray of light in a very dark time."

Tahnee is scheduled to begin chemotherapy on August 8. While the treatment won't be curative, it could extend her lifespan.

She hopes to resume light work between chemotherapy sessions, with the support of her mother, sister Chloe, and close friends who have organized dinner shifts to help the family.

Among her pending plans, she has booked a skydive for September 6 and hopes to meet Australian musician Jimmy Barnes in person, something her sister Chloe is trying to arrange.

In October, Tahnee will turn 40 and dreams of taking her daughters on a family cruise around New Zealand.

Tahnee now seeks to raise awareness so that other women take the signs their bodies give them seriously.

"I wish they had been able to do this test when I was there for my Pap smear (months earlier), too," she reflected.

"I ignored my symptoms. I thought I was just bloated from the pizza, but I want my story to help others catch it sooner."

He concluded firmly: "This is my story and my struggle. Even though no one else has made it this far, I plan to see it through to the end."

*This content was written with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on publicly available information released to media outlets. It was also reviewed by the journalist and an editor.