My cousin (well, cousin's wife, actually) was diagnosed with uterine cancer in November.  We all felt really bad for her, we all rallied around, especially my auntie who has given up work to look after her 3 kids.  She had to go back and forth to Aberdeen hospital (about 50 miles away) to get her fallopian tubes removed, and to get follow up care.  Then she was moved to Glasgow hospital to have more treatment, and then to Bristol to have Chaemotherapy (sp?) and radiotherapy.  This has been going on for months, and each time she insists that no one can visit her, and no one can send cards because she's not sure of the address.  Also, if she phones anyone, she claims to be in the toilet on her mobile phone.  I found this to be incredibly suspicious, so I phoned the hospital in Glasgow (the SouthWestern) and asked to speak to her.  Guess what?  They had no record of her ever having been in the hospital.

Then, a couple of weeks later, she claimed to have left her wedding ring at the hospital.  She received it a few days later, through the post.  Not registered delivery, no NHS frankings, just a plain brown envelope.  Suspicious, no?

The latest development - she told her best friend that she's actually having an affair with a man she met over the net.  Her friend told her mother, who in turn told my mum.  Now we don't know what to do.  Do we tell my auntie that she's being played for a fool, or do we leave it and hope that Mary (my auntie) finds out for herself?  I have to admit, I really don't want to be the one to hurt my auntie and my cousin by telling them this, and I don't know if they would believe me if I did.

Any advice?

I think you would be best voicing your suspicions with this woman :( and seeing what she says for herself.
If she has played people for fools and the rumours are true then thats a truly terrible thing to do to anyone :(

I know.  It's disgusting.  What makes it ten times worse is that my uncle's partner had bowel cancer a few years back and had to have his bowel removed.  It's really terrible pretending to be ill at all, but cancer?  She's an evil cow.

I would follow her sometime, or have someone follow her and take pics this way you have proof....Where is her hubby through all this? If that was my other half I would be right there by his side....Knowing me if I was close to her I would confront her. I take it she is still married I would be worried that she may give something untreatable to her husband because of her wild ways....If someone isn't happy in their marraige I think it best if they come clean for respect to their OH and children.

Do hope it gets sorted soon before someone gets really hurt :(

Are you sure about the hospital you contacted. I am born and bred in Glasgow. Was it the Southern General or the Western Infirmary. There isnt a south western.
Regards Mick

Sorry - she originally said the Western Infirmary, then changed her tune to the Southern General.  We phoned both, and neither have a record of her at all.

As for her husband - he has to work to make sure they have money to pay the bills.  Whenever he manages to get a day off to go visit her, she's let out the day before as if by magic.

I think I would keep out of it..getting involved with the stuff of other peoples lives can get very messy and the messenger frequently gets shot...

Im not too sure id like to watch someone else be taken for a ride .If i were you id find out when shes suposed to be in hospital again and go visit her ;) then ring hubby up and say i came to visit but shes not here , no one would suspect a thing , its not fair to play games with so many people if its true shes not ill she is one sick woman her poor children! . at least your aunt needs to know id tell her or show her shes not where shes suposed to be

My gut instinct would be to stay away. As Reddor has already said "shoot the messenger"
But taking the "Michael" with such a serious thing as this is very very "disturbing behaviour" and I think I might try  Lovelylady's suggestion and just turn up turn up preferably with your Mom and Aunt in toe at the hospital she's told you she is in. Then if she's there fine - visit, if not ring her from there and ask where abouts's she is.
That way you aren't telling anyone anything but you would put your own mind at rest.

But I would be temped to leave well alone. Someone who could do this is cannot be a "stable personality"

Karen

She's a total nutter.  My mum met her in the supermarket yesterday, and apparently she looked fantastic.  My mum said "My God, Dawn, you wouldn't think you'd had chemo at all!"  Surprisingly, she kept very silent about that!  I don't really want to get involved but it really p****s me off to see her treating my family this way.

My best friend has cancer. She has weekly chemo sessions with plasters/bruises on the line sites to prove it. She also runs her own buisness and takes good care of her makeup/hair etc so you wouldnt know unless you were in the know so to speak. Shes lived with cancer a long time and had different kinds of chemo, the most aggressive treatment reduced her to a skeleton, this current dose is palliative only so she just gets a bit tired on the day then gets on with it. You have to be very sure of your ground before " unmasking" Dawn and remember hospitals do lose peoples records, sometimes at patients requests - my pals OH didnt know about her current status for months and when he asked the hospital if she was there, they denied it at her request.

Not that I have any sympathy whatsoever with bogus patients especially when they make money out of it, it enrages me on my friends behalf.

It's such an emotive subject and I know that I would feel seven kinds of awful if it turns out that she does have cancer.  It's just all so strange, why can't she get her chemo at Aberdeen, which is our nearest hospital and (according to my uncle's partner, who used to be head of the nursing council) has a fantastic chemo programme?  Why would she have to travel to Bristol at all?  It just doesn't add up, but as you said Lorelei I would have to be very sure of myself before unmasking her.  Maybe best to let things run their course and hope that if she is lying my auntie finds out for herself.

Dont worry BennyBoo :-) lies have a nasty habbit of turning round and biting people on the bum!!This person will very likley get her just deserts one way or another :-D