A mum who struggled to get an appointment with her GP over agonising stomach pains later died of a “quiet killer”.
Verna Jackson, 50, was found clinging to a bench in agony by her dad who took her to a GP and demanded she be seen.
The doctor prescribed medication for a stomach ulcer but the pain later returned.
She was later diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died five weeks later, Liverpool Echo reported.
Sister Yvonne Powell, 49, said: “My dad bumped into her in the village one day and she was in agony.
“He said, 'right that's it', and just marched her into the doctors and said, 'we're making an appointment and we're not leaving until we've got one'.”
She added her sister was later taken to hospital.
Yvonne said: “She was at my mum's and she was just crying in agony.
"My mum was on the phone to the GP and the GP said to take her up to A&E. It was the Easter weekend and they said they can't scan her because it's a bank holiday. She was in a lot of pain over the four days of the bank holiday weekend, she went back up to A&E, my mum took her, and they kept her in.
“That was when they actually scanned her.
“The final time we went up, her daughter didn't want to go up because she was really upset the day before, because her mum did look really ill the last few days.
“Her breathing was very laboured and we knew she wasn't going to make it through the day, so my mum called, and my dad shot up.
“My mum and dad were holding her hand and I was stroking her hair, and it literally was one last breath and she was gone."
Cancer Research UK says only 7 per cent of those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer survive five years after their diagnosis because symptoms are often not seen until it has grown.
Diana Jupp, chief executive of Pancreatic Cancer UK, said: "The message from health professionals is frighteningly clear - the pandemic, staff shortages and underfunding have all pushed the NHS to breaking point.
“Pancreatic cancer is the quickest killing cancer, and any delays to diagnosis and treatment could cost people their chance of survival. There is no time to wait.
"Governments across the UK must bring forward and implement funded cancer plans to deliver faster diagnosis and treatment that will save lives, not just this winter but well into the future.
“We cannot afford to continue lurching from one worsening crisis to another. People with pancreatic cancer, their loved ones, and hardworking NHS staff all deserve better."
