23-year-old Signe fought a 9 cm tumor: 'We are not immortal, even when young'
23-year-old Signe Šūmakere reveals that a year and a half ago she was diagnosed with a 9 cm tumor in her pancreas, which turned out to be rare and benign. The path to diagnosis was long and costly, with doctors initially attributing her symptoms to stress.
Signe Šūmakere, who appears cheerful and energetic on social media, has shared that a year and a half ago she battled a serious health issue – a nine-centimeter tumor in her pancreas. In an interview with Delfi, the young woman recounts her journey, which began with unclear symptoms.
It all started with sudden skin problems and frequent illnesses. Over six months, Signe fell ill eight times, including with COVID-19, flu, and rotaviruses. Despite this, several specialists – endocrinologists, gastroenterologists, dermatologists, and neurologists – attributed her condition to stress. 'You are young, you just have a lot of stress,' they told her.
However, Signe did not accept this diagnosis and continued searching for answers. Thanks to her insurance, she could afford expensive tests, spending a total of 4,500 euros. Eventually, a tumor was discovered, which after surgery proved to be rare and benign – only 2% of the world's population has this type of tumor. The surgery was successful, and Signe was soon walking around the hospital to meet her daily step goal.
'I hope my story inspires others not to give up and to seek the truth,' Signe says, emphasizing that we are not immortal, even when we are young.
/nginx/o/2026/02/21/17463061t1hff57.jpg)
