### A Life-Saving Holiday: How a Weekend at Butlin’s Led to a Shocking Discovery
Charlotte Morjaria, a 31-year-old mother from Newport, had set out for a carefree weekend at Butlin’s in Minehead, Somerset, with her two closest friends. For Charlotte, it was supposed to be a joyful escape—a chance to unwind, laugh, and enjoy herself away from the everyday pressures of work and family. Little did she know, this trip would become one of the most significant events of her life, ultimately saving her from a silent and potentially deadly illness.
#### A Weekend of Fun and Unexpected Events
The weekend was filled with laughter and camaraderie. Charlotte and her friends, embracing the festive atmosphere of the holiday park, soon found themselves mingling with a stag party. What started as friendly games quickly escalated into playful chaos. Charlotte recalls, "Probably a tad too much drinking, albeit we were having a fantastic time before disaster struck—or you could call it a miracle." In the midst of their games, one of the men picked her up over his shoulder during a round of tag. She heard something "go pop" but, caught up in the excitement, dismissed it and continued to enjoy the evening.
#### The Lingering Pain and a Hospital Visit
After the trip, Charlotte returned home to Newport, expecting only fond memories and perhaps a bit of a hangover. However, the pain in her side persisted and began to worry her. Assuming she might have fractured a rib during the playful roughhousing, she decided to visit the local Accident & Emergency (A&E) department. The trip to the hospital was not something she took lightly; Charlotte described exhaustion and a sense of reluctance. "I'm sat there with what I suspect is a bruised rib... I felt like a bit of a fraud," she remembered, noting how she felt almost embarrassed to be taking up hospital resources for what she believed was a minor injury.
Her time in the waiting room was anything but brief. For 22 hours, she sat, dozing in and out of consciousness, repeatedly considering giving up and returning home. At her lowest point, support arrived—first her mother, then one of her friends, both of whom encouraged her to stay and see the visit through.
#### A Shocking Diagnosis
Eventually, Charlotte was seen by medical staff. Doctors ordered a CT scan to check for internal injuries. When they returned with the results, Charlotte immediately sensed that something was wrong. "They did not have the faces of people who are just going to say you’re fine," she recalled. The news was shocking: the scan had revealed a "sizeable" mass on her left kidney. The rib was fine, but the doctors had discovered a 7-centimeter tumour that she had never suspected.
"In that moment, it was probably the most scared I've ever been in my life," Charlotte admitted. Suddenly, what had begun as a fun weekend had led to a moment of existential fear.
#### How Did This Happen?
Charlotte's mind was flooded with questions. How could a tumour of this size have gone unnoticed? She had not experienced any obvious warning signs, and on the surface, she was a healthy, active young woman. She enjoyed regular dance classes and swimming, and despite some common complaints like back pain and fatigue, she had attributed these to the demands of raising her energetic two-year-old son, Sebastian.
There were, in retrospect, some subtle indicators. Charlotte had struggled with disordered eating in the past and, in 2024, had taken the weight loss medication Mounjaro, which she stopped when it made her feel unwell. She also suffers from depression, for which she takes medication, and had a history of fluctuating weight and energy levels. Still, nothing pointed clearly to cancer—a disease she and her doctors associated with older or less active people.
"The doctors were astounded, not only by the fact I was this young, healthy woman, but the fact that, on the surface, I'd had no idea," she said.
#### A Rare and Dangerous Cancer
Charlotte was diagnosed with stage one TFE3 renal cell carcinoma, a rare and unusual type of kidney cancer. Her consultant admitted to only having heard of one other case—it was that uncommon. The lack of information about her specific diagnosis only added to the anxiety and uncertainty she faced.
Fortunately, the cancer was detected at an early stage and had not spread beyond her kidney.