4 women also living with FATWO, found since we went public and now in touch with Nicola
Each gold ring fills towards its goal. Plus 230+ shares, each one putting FATWO in front of someone new. Since 13 October, updated 26 October.
Nicola is 43. She was a classroom assistant, the job she always wanted and loved. For years she has given her heart to children and families in Kenya.
Now she gets up every day for our children, through the pain and the chemotherapy, and she still worries about everyone else first.
“Treatment has started. Don't get me wrong, it's scary, but I'm going to fight this. And with your help and support, I am even more determined to fight it. … We've got this.”
Nicola
Please watch, with the sound on. Then send it to one person who might know someone.
From the first symptoms in March 2024 to chemotherapy today.
Pain, exhaustion and weight loss begin. For months it's put down to early menopause, then anxiety.
A scan finally finds a very large growth beside Nicola's womb.
Major surgery. Afterwards, tests identify the tumour as FATWO. We hoped that would be the end of it.
Regular scans and specialist reviews. Nicola gives up her job as a classroom assistant, the job she loved.
Nicola finds a new lump, and then two more.
A scan confirms the cancer has come back, in two places.
Surgery and targeted radiotherapy are ruled out. Chemotherapy is agreed.
Chemotherapy begins, every three weeks. Nicola's Story goes public.
Searching the world for anyone who knows FATWO, and for every possible option.
A scan after three rounds, to see how the chemotherapy is working.
FATWO, a female adnexal tumour of probable Wolffian origin, grows from tiny traces of tissue left over from before birth, beside the womb. It was first described in 1973.
Most FATWOs never come back after surgery. Nicola's has. There is no clinical trial and no standard treatment, because there have never been enough patients to study.
Figures for 2022 from GLOBOCAN, via the World Cancer Research Fund. FATWO from published case reviews. Not every case is published, so the true number may be a little higher.
Female adnexal tumour of probable Wolffian origin. “Adnexal” means it grows beside the womb, and “Wolffian” refers to tiny traces of tissue left over from before birth.
Only around 150 cases have been recorded worldwide since it was first described in 1973, about 3 a year. Every year, about 9.7 million women worldwide are diagnosed with cancer. Only about 3 have FATWO.
Usually in the broad ligament beside the womb, from leftover Wolffian tissue that many women carry without ever knowing.
It has been reported in women aged from 13 to 83, most often around the age of 50.
Fewer than 1 in 5 come back after surgery. When it does, it is most often in the lining of the abdomen or in the liver. Nicola's has come back.
Surgery is the main treatment. Because it is so rare, there are no clinical trials and no standard treatment, and the role of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is still unknown.
Share Nicola's film, tell us if you know anything about FATWO, pray for Nicola, give to Nicola's Journey, or hold a fundraiser. Everything you need is on this page.
Sources: PathologyOutlines; 2024 systematic review of FATWO; World Cancer Research Fund (GLOBOCAN 2022). Reported cases undercount the true number, as not every case is published.
Every year, about 3 women in the whole world are diagnosed with FATWO.
Only around 150 cases have been recorded since 1973. In that time, an estimated 300 million women around the world have been diagnosed with cancer, so roughly 1 in every 2 million was FATWO. Every one of the 150 would fit in one small church.
From Co Down to Kenya, Australia and the USA, people have watched her film and followed her story. Somewhere out there is someone who knows FATWO.
Watched or followedHome, Co Down
Countries where people have watched on YouTube or follow on Facebook, since 13 October. TikTok doesn't share where viewers are, so the real reach is wider.
A few weeks ago we felt very alone with this. We don't any more. Figures since 13 October, updated 25 October.
Nicola's story was shared by newspapers and news sites across the UK, Ireland and the USA, including the Mirror, The Sun, LADbible and the Irish Mirror. Thank you to every journalist who helped it reach further, and to everyone who has been in touch since.
On a video call arranged by a cancer charity in the USA, Nicola talked with three other women living with FATWO, in the USA and the UK. With only around 150 cases ever recorded, four women with FATWO being able to talk together felt like a miracle.
Slides from Nicola's 2025 surgery have been sent to pathologists in the USA and Canada who have studied FATWO, for further tests and second opinions. A UK charity also passed her case to a national rare gynaecological cancer research group.
The last of 225 emails went out to doctors, cancer charities, newsrooms and leaders. Every reply is read, and every lead followed up.
Printed letters went to political leaders, companies and well-known people who might be able to open a door, each with a short leaflet about FATWO.
We started writing to churches and church offices around the world, asking them to pray that Nicola meets the right people.
Nicola's two-minute film was released, and this website went live, so everything about her story is in one place.
Specialists in New York, Virginia and Toronto replied, offering to help. A charity in the USA also put us in touch with other women living with FATWO.
Nicola had her first chemotherapy, and we shared her story publicly for the first time.
LADbible Cheshire Live Mirror The Sun Belfast Live News Letter Belfast Telegraph Armagh I
The Irish Sun Galway Beo Irish Mirror evoke.ie
The US Sun Yahoo News
Nicola’s story has now been shared by 14 newspapers and news sites in the UK, Ireland and the USA. Thank you to every journalist who has helped it reach further.
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Every gift, whatever the size, helps get Nicola in front of the people who know FATWO best.
Give nowSecure GoFundMe page, takes under a minuteJust given? Thank you. One more thing helps just as much: .
There is no standard treatment for FATWO, so we're getting Nicola's case in front of the people who know it best. These are the prices we've been quoted:
Prices quoted to us in October 2026. Some specialists are kindly helping for free, so we'll only pay for what's needed.
The doctors, researchers and other women living with FATWO are spread across the world. Your gifts help us talk to them and, where it helps, travel to meet them.
Keeping our children's routines going, making precious memories together, and getting them any support they need, now and in the future. It also covers therapies that help Nicola with her pain and help her live as well as she can.
Nicola has given so much of herself to Kenya over the years. Part of what's raised will go to Kenya Sunbeam Ministries, Action Not Words and Lead Mission, and to a local charity close to her heart. Her hope is to take our children back to Kenya when her doctors say it's safe.
We put life insurance in place so that, if this day ever came, we could do exactly these things. Because of a problem with the policy, that cover is no longer there. So we're doing it together instead, with the people who care about Nicola.
Every possible option, never a promise of a cure.
Every gift is seen and read by Andrew and Nicola. Thank you.
Can't give? A share is just as valuable.
“I trust the Lord to be with me and walk alongside me.”
Nicola
0 people and churches have told us they're praying
So many of you have told us you're praying. Thank you. If you'd like to pray with us, please pray:
Whether you know something about FATWO, want to help, or just want to send Nicola a message, we'd love to hear from you. Andrew reads every one.
With only around 150 cases ever recorded, the knowledge about FATWO is scattered across the world. We would be very grateful to hear from:
Nicola is under NHS care in Northern Ireland. With her consent, we can share her medical details directly with clinicians. Every possible option, never a promise of a cure.
Why her case matters to research. A 2019 genomic study of FATWO concluded that its “disease-defining molecular alterations… have yet to be discovered.” Every case that is studied adds to what is known.
Open the FATWO Research LibraryTreatments reported for FATWOFATWO specialistsFind cases like yours
Thank you for helping Nicola's story travel. Please get in touch about interviews or features, as Nicola's health allows.
“There’s no roadmap for this. Somewhere out there is a woman who has had FATWO, a family who has been through it, or a doctor or researcher who has studied it. We want to find them.”
Andrew Crymble, Nicola's husband
nicola.crymble@gmail.comOne message could reach the person who knows. Pick who you're writing to, change anything you like, then send it.
X uses a shorter version of long messages. Facebook and LinkedIn share the page link. On TikTok? Copy the message and paste it into a DM or comment, with @livingwithfatwo.