Mum diagnosed with cancer 'was denied screening - because she was too young'

14 March 2024 , 15:09

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Kelly Ward says she was hugely let down by her GP (Image: Kelly Ward / SWNS)

A mum who claimed doctors brushed her cancer off as a chest infection believes she was denied access to a routine test because she was "too young".

Kelly Ward, who was 49 at the time, from Kent, said she begged three doctors for help after she spotted a "rock-hard lump" in her breast. But despite her persistence, the former teaching assistant was turned away, whilst she was just below the NHS recommended age of 50 for screening.

The determined mum, who lives in Wigmore, said she was "let down big time" by her GP. She explained that she wasn't given a mammogram until she had a "heated" dispute with staff at a medical centre - which revealed the devastating diagnosis.

She was told she had triple-negative breast cancer and had to have 10 rounds of chemotherapy, which saw her lose her "lovely long" hair. Luckily, Kelly "rang the bell" when she completed her treatment in November 2022 - and was given the "all-clear" following a recent test this year.

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kelly said she lost her 'lovely blond hair' during treatment (Kelly Ward / SWNS)

Mum diagnosed with cancer 'was denied screening - because she was too young'

The mum believes she wasn't taken seriously because of her age (Kelly Ward / SWNS)

The mum said she complained to the health ombudsman and received an apology from her GP and £750 compensation. The mum said: "At one point I thought it’s me I’m going mad. But I was not going mad. I knew something was wrong.

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"My message would be you know your own body and if you feel things aren’t right keep on until somebody listens. Although you shouldn’t have to do that.” Kelly, mum to Callum, 16, first went to a GP in October 2021 and asked if she needed a mammogram. She claims she was told “there was nothing to worry about”.

But after months had passed Kelly felt the lump growing - and says it became so tender that she had to hold her breasts when going upstairs. She saw a doctor in early January 2022 who thought the 2cm tumour in her right breast could be a chest infection, she claims. Kelly was sent for an x-ray which came back clear.

But she persisted and, after finally getting the examination, she was sent for a biopsy immediately. Kelly then had an operation to remove the tumour and then underwent 10 rounds of chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy.

She said: “I lost my lovely long blonde hair and was very sick. It was horrible for my family. I remember my son shaving my head and wearing a wig. Because of Covid I had to go alone. I remember being introduced to a Macmillan nurse. I started shaking. I remember thinking I have cancer. I asked if I was going to die.”

Kelly, now 51, completed her treatment in November 2022. She said: “Thankfully, they got the cancer out and it had not spread.” She had her yearly scan in February of this year and recently received the 'all-clear'. She said: “Medway Hospital’s breast clinic have been amazing. I couldn’t have coped without all their help. Although my GP let me down big time, I definitely can praise the Medway breast clinic.”

In a letter from the medical centre, a senior GP offered a “sincere apology”. It read: ”Following the PHSO’s (Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman) investigation into your complaint we acknowledge that you were not given the standard of care that you had a right to expect following your chest x-ray result.

“It has been identified there was a gap in care following your examination by a locum doctor, which delayed the Practice from carrying out the treatment plan on receipt of the normal test result.”

After Kelly's complaint was registered, the surgery implemented a change for negative results from “normal, no action required” to “normal” indicating that a follow-up may be necessary. It added: ”The reception team have been made aware that any requests for a mammogram should be explored fully so that red flags can be identified and escalated appropriately.

“It has also been reiterated that all patients complaining of a breast lump should be offered an appointment by the next working day.” Kelly, who now runs her own balloon garland business, is keeping fit by swimming regularly - and is “living life to the full”.

NHS Kent and Medway ICB, the organisation responsible for the overall integrated care system plan for meeting health needs in the community, has been approached for comment. The NHS Breast Screening Programme invites all women from the age of 50 to 70 to register with a GP for screening every three years. This means that some people may not have their first screening mammogram until they are 52 or 53 years old.