'The Crown' actress Olivia Williams' Shocking Cancer Journey Revealed; Is Misdiagnosis the Real Killer?

Olivia Williams, a famous actress from ‘The Crown,’ recently talked about her ongoing fight with pancreatic cancer. The 56-year-old described the challenging path that resulted in her diagnosis in 2018, following years of misdiagnosis, in an interview that was recently published.

MisdiagnosisThe Times reported that Williams started to suffer from severe symptoms like chronic diarrhea, aching limbs, and ongoing fatigue. She saw ten doctors in three different countries in search of answers, but she kept getting misdiagnosed for conditions like perimenopause, IBS, lupus, and even mental health problems. She was even recommended for a psychiatric evaluation by one physician.

Reflecting on this painful period, she said, “If someone had f------ well diagnosed me in the four years I’d been saying I was ill, when they told me I was menopausal or had irritable bowel syndrome or [was] crazy — I use that word advisedly because one doctor referred me for a psychiatric assessment — then one operation possibly could have cleared the whole thing and I could describe myself as cancer-free, which I cannot now ever be.”

Cancer discoveryEventually, doctors discovered a VIPoma — a rare tumor on her pancreas. However, by the time it was removed, the cancer had already spread to her liver. Williams acknowledged the seriousness of this, stating it is "the worst news" for any cancer patient.

She now undergoes regular "microwave ablation" to treat the recurring metastases. Describing the emotional cycle of her checkups, she said, “I go in like a puppy with this optimistic, bright face and then they give me bad news. And it’s like, oh my God, I fell for it again." She added, "They’ve found new metastases pretty well either just before Christmas or in the middle of a summer holiday. Then, for three years in a row, they started appearing too close to major blood vessels to zap."

Advice for early detectionDespite her personal challenges, Williams emphasized that she does not seek sympathy. Instead, she is advocating for the development of a "cheap, early test" for pancreatic cancer. Highlighting the urgent need, she explained, “The average time from diagnosis to death [for pancreatic cancer] is three months — and that figure has not improved in 50 years.” She added, “It takes an average person with my cancer 11 visits to the GP to be diagnosed. For me it was probably about 21 times.”

Williams passionately argued, “Because it’s so quick and so shocking, people tend to liken losing someone to this cancer to losing them in a car crash. What could change that is early detection with a test that could be as simple as breathing into a bag at your GP. We’re incredibly close, we just need to get it over the line.”

Gratitude and strength
Williams continues to be active in between treatments, currently supporting Pancreatic Cancer UK through the London Marathon charity campaign. She regularly practices yoga and points out gratitude as a mother of two daughters, ages 17 and 20.

Reflecting on her body’s strength, she shared, “You have to stand in the sweaty room and look at yourself in a mirror for an hour and a half. Obviously, I see all those signs of aging and bad living and think how much better I could look if I didn’t eat so many chips and drink so much wine. But I also look in awe at my body — I think, what you have been through and you can still put your foot over your head. You can still walk and run and eat. It’s a miracle.”