A young woman was "badly let down" as urgent calls for change have been made.
The ECHO previously reported that Lois Walker, 37, suffered with stomach pain for over a year, but it wasn't until her son Ray was born by Caesarean section in 2021 when she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. The mum-of-three first became unwell in June 2020 when she experienced strange bathroom habits and swelling around her diaphragm.
But despite numerous calls and visits to her GP and A&E, she was labelled a "hypochondriac" and given anxiety medication. But after falling pregnant in December 2020, she was in excruciating pain 14 weeks later following her gender reveal scan.
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ECHO readers have had their say on how the "heartbreaking" situation has seen the woman "badly let down". Christine Bird wrote: "This is awful and so heartbreaking! This is happening too much these days! Doctors even diagnosing illness over a phone call, what's that all about??? Something needs to change!!"
Laura Ludden said: "People know when there's something wrong with your own body. They should've listened and done extra tests to put her mind at ease and yours. Rather then just saying she was a hypochondriac. You've completely failed this woman, so sad for her and her baby."
Paula Keeley added: "Absolutely disgusting also incredibly sad and heartbreaking."
On September 3, 2021, as Lois went into labour with her third son, she found out from the doctor treating her that she most likely had cancer. She said: "The doctor actually grabbed my hand and he cried and he actually said that he’d let me down."
Lois has had six rounds of chemotherapy and two operations, but the disease quickly spread and doctors now say it is terminal. She previously described her experience as "diabolical", as many ECHO readers were quick to share their thoughts and support.
Bel Newby said: "Same sort of thing happened to me too. Doctor said I had a tear in my bowel. Things got worse constantly bleeding so went to see another GP and he just said you've torn your bowel use the cream and it will go better.
"He never examined me just went with what the other GP said. A few weeks later I was sent a bowel screening test wasn't going to do it but changed my mind. Well it turns out that I had a large pre-cancerous tumour and I was told I had been lucky because if it hadn't been detected and removed then it would have turned to cancer within a couple of months."
Debbie Brigden added: "This happened too me but mine was cervical cancer, I was in agony for 18 months every time I went the doctors I was fobbed off they said it was cystitis and to go the chemist for some powders, then I was told it was the early menopause.
"It was actually a locum doctor who came to our surgery for six weeks who straight away sent me for a smear tests etc, without her I wouldn’t be here today and my five kids wouldn’t have a mum. I’m so, so sorry this has happened to you Lois, you don’t deserve any of this, you have been badly let down by the professionals who should've caught this cancer sooner."
Helen Sky Madden echoed: "Been there myself, thankfully not terminal but was told by Doctor that no hospital would treat me if he had his way. I hope this young lady family fight for her."
When asked for comment, a spokesperson from Dove Valley Practice previously said: "We are sorry to hear Ms Walker’s concerns about her care and that she didn’t feel listened to. We carried out a review of Ms Walker’s care and referrals for tests and we shared those findings with her at that time.
"We welcome anyone with concerns about the care they have received with us to get in touch so we can investigate. Unfortunately, we cannot comment further due to our duty of confidentiality."
