18 March 2023 , 13:55
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A mother who was told by health professionals she had a kidney infection found out two years later it was cancer.
Kim Jones, from Cardiff, has been prescribed antibiotics for kidney infections over the last 24 months after complaining of pains.
But, after a visit to the Health Hospital in Cardiff the 45-year-old was told doctors had found a mass on her kidney which turned out to be stage three cancer.
Two years ago, after being given treatment for a kidney infection, she was referred to Rookwood Hospital for a scan but nothing showed up, WalesOnline reports.
"From then on, every couple of weeks, I was going back and forth to my GP with urine samples and was being prescribed more antibiotics," she said.
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But, in September last year, Kim began having back pain and blood appeared in her urine.
Kim said she was given more antibiotics to treat the problem and was told the urology department would be contacted to push her appointment forward.
The 45-year-old, centre, cut her hair and donated it to The Princess Trust (Kim Jones)Weeks later Kim was found out she had stage three cancer.
She explained: "I was convinced it was kidney stones. I never thought for one minute it was cancer.
"I went to the appointment on my own, because nobody expects to be told that. I just thought of my six children. I was just so heartbroken. When I had to come home and tell them, even now, my heart's broken for them."
Kim later had a biopsy and her first surgery.
Just before Christmas, Kim had to spend the holiday in hospital until New Year's Eve.
It was the first time the mum-of-six had spent Christmas away from her children, which left her "heartbroken".
Mum-of-six Kim Jones missed Christmas with her children as she was in hospital (Kim Jones)But the Cardiff woman ended up with some positive news after finding out her daughter was pregnant.
"That was my one wish, to watch her become a mum, but I couldn't even enjoy the pregnancy with her because I was in hospital," she explained.
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"But I'm very positive. This won't take me out, I'll beat it all the way because I'm a strong woman. But my heart is broken because I've got to watch my children's hearts break."
Now, however, Kim has said she can't even go to her local shops and only tends to leave the house to go to Velindre Cancer Centre.
Wanting to give something back to her community, Kim has set up a GoFundMe page for the cancer centre and recently had her hair cut and intends to send it to the Little Princess Trust, which provides real hair wigs to children who have lost their own locks.
Kim Jones found out she had cancer after being given antibiotics for a kidney problem (Kim Jones)She said: "Velindre and Macmillan have been absolutely fantastic with me.
"Macmillan helped me financially - I would have been b*****ed without them."
Kim's son will also be doing a skydive in May to raise money for Macmillan. Kim said she had a positive outlook and was focusing on supporting her children.
"I just wanted to make people aware that, if something in your body doesn't feel right, don't be palmed off with antibiotics. I'm not blaming anybody - it is what it is," Kim said. "I knew something was wrong, but I never expected it to be cancer."