Mum, 39, is diagnosed with one of the most rare and aggressive cancers on her way to school pick-up: ‘I never suspected it’

Brielle Barker was driving to pick up her daughter from school with her son in the back seat when a phone call changed her life forever.

Days earlier, the Sydney mother-of-two had undergone emergency surgery after doctors discovered her appendix was close to bursting. The specialist was calling with biopsy results.

‘A doctor called me and told me that I actually had cancer,’ Brielle, 39, told the Daily Mail.

‘I freaked out, and my poor kids heard it. There was no hiding it.

‘I had no idea. I never suspected it could have been cancer. I was shocked. I was shaking. I didn’t know what to do. I just burst into tears.’

What followed was a diagnosis few people have ever heard of: stage four signet ring cell carcinoma of the appendix, an exceptionally rare and aggressive cancer that had already spread beyond the original tumour.

As Brielle came to terms with the reality of her illness, her thoughts immediately turned to her two children, aged 10 and 12.

The single mother said the hardest part has not been facing her own mortality, but imagining what life could look like for the children she adores.

‘They don’t deserve this,’ she said.

‘My son has autism, ADHD and sensory processing disorders. I’ve been his carer since he was diagnosed at six years old. He’s so smart, and he’s funny, he’s beautiful, and he’s got the best heart.

‘And my daughter, she’s funny. She makes me laugh all the time, and she’s so sweet and sensitive.’

Brielle’s cancer journey began in late 2025 when she started experiencing severe abdominal pain.

Initial scans and blood tests revealed she was dangerously low in iron, while imaging identified another serious health condition: adenomyosis, which had enlarged her uterus to three times its normal size and caused a large fibroid.

Doctors believed those findings explained her symptoms, and because of the adenomyosis, the tumour hidden inside her appendix went undetected.

She was advised to manage the pain with medication while waiting for surgery.

But one night, the pain became so unbearable that Brielle called an ambulance.

‘No matter what they did, they gave me a max of everything and couldn’t understand why I was still in excruciating pain,’ she said.

When she arrived at hospital, a CT scan revealed her appendix had almost ruptured, and doctors rushed her into surgery.

Afterwards, they briefly mentioned finding something unusual inside the appendix but reassured her not to worry while they waited for biopsy results.

A week later, the call came.

Within days, Brielle found herself sitting inside a consultation room at Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital hearing the full extent of the diagnosis.

‘I went to see the doctor and she told me just how bad the diagnosis was,’ she said.

‘From there, it was all just a blur. I had my mum with me and we kind of just sat there, and I just stared at the ground.

‘I couldn’t remember much. My mum had to relay all the information to me again afterwards because I was told it, but I couldn’t process it.’

Doctors explained the tumour had already leaked cancer cells into her lymphatic system, significantly complicating treatment.

Further surgery revealed the disease had spread to the lining of her abdomen and multiple tumours had developed.

The findings meant Brielle was no longer a candidate for immediate surgery and would first need chemotherapy in an attempt to shrink the cancer.

‘Signet ring cancer is rare. It’s horrible,’ she said.

‘Appendix cancer is rare. It’s just so painful, and I live in constant pain.’

Unlike many cancers that may be discovered before symptoms become severe, Brielle’s disease affects almost every aspect of her daily life.

She describes experiencing sharp stabbing pains without warning, alongside constant burning cramps that resemble labour contractions.

‘My pain feels like a very sharp stab. Sometimes it’s like someone is stabbing me from the inside,’ she said.

‘Then there’s other pain which is very intense, burning and cramping. It feels like labour pains. That’s what I get every day.’

Strong pain medication has become a necessary part of daily life, but even basic household tasks remain difficult.

‘The smallest task, like vacuuming my house, becomes excruciatingly painful,’ she said.

‘I didn’t think that when you had cancer it was supposed to be painful. But this one is.’

Adding to the challenge, Brielle is also managing ulcerative colitis and a heart condition known as bicuspid aortic valve, for which she will eventually require open-heart surgery.

Despite everything she faces physically, Brielle said the emotional toll on her children has been the hardest burden to carry.

The family made the difficult decision not to shield them from the seriousness of her diagnosis.

‘We’ve decided not to sugarcoat anything for them so they can be prepared. They’ve already grown up so much. They’re missing out on their childhood because of this,’ she said.

As her treatment continues, Brielle is surrounded by a support network she describes as extraordinary.

Her six sisters, two brothers, mother, and wider family have rallied around her, helping with school runs, meals, medication schedules, and caring for her children.

‘My family is amazing. I can’t fault them. They’ve all come together to try and make my life easier,’ she said.

Her children’s schools have also stepped in to help, with staff supporting the family through appointments, hospital stays, and the daily challenges of treatment.

While her prognosis remains uncertain, Brielle continues searching for every possible avenue that might improve her chances.

Alongside chemotherapy, she has made significant lifestyle changes, cutting refined sugar from her diet, focusing on nutrition and exploring complementary therapies designed to support her overall wellbeing.

Most days are now spent at home managing symptoms and conserving energy.

When she needs an escape, she turns to gaming with her children.

‘I’m lucky that I’m a gamer. I play Fortnite and Minecraft with my kids,’ she said.

‘They take me to another place and help me take my mind off everything.’

Those moments of normality have become precious.

Family barbecues, conversations with friends, and afternoons spent laughing with her children offer brief respite from the reality of living with advanced cancer.

Yet beneath everything lies a fear she admits never truly disappears.

‘My kids are the ones I’m worried about the most,’ she said.

‘Everyone will eventually put themselves back together and move along. But my kids will never forget. If I don’t beat this, they will have pain for the rest of their lives.

‘I feel so much guilt because as a mother, I’m supposed to protect them from everything that causes them hurt. And then I feel like I’m the person causing them the most. It breaks my heart.’

Still, she remains determined to keep fighting.

‘I’m doing it for them,’ she said.

‘I know this is going to be hard and I know it’s going to be horrible. And I’m scared. I’m really scared. But doing it for them makes it so much easier. They’re worth it.

‘They are the most beautiful kids you’ll ever come across. They have the best hearts and they don’t deserve this.’

Now, Brielle hopes sharing her story will bring attention to a cancer that receives little public awareness and limited research funding.

She wants more resources directed towards understanding and treating signet ring cell carcinoma so that future families are not forced to endure the same uncertainty and heartbreak.

‘I really want to bring awareness and get more research into this type of cancer because there’s nothing for it,’ she said.

‘I want funding so they can research it and help people who are in my situation. I don’t want anyone else’s children to suffer like mine do.’