Mum of 5 has days to live after medics 'sent her home saying she was stressed'
A mum-of-five with terminal cancer claims she was repeatedly dismissed by doctors as having a viral infection and being "stressed".
Claire Francis, 38, battled breast cancer following a mastectomy in 2021, ringing the end of treatment bell in July 2022, but now it has returned and she's been given months, if not days, to live.
She is trying to come to terms with the news after becoming ill in February and struggling to breathe, reports NottinghamshireLive.
Claire was so concerned she went to A&E at Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, and the NHS Walk-in Treatment Centre in the city several times over a period of four weeks, she said.
But each time it was suspected she had a viral infection - and all her observations were deemed okay until a senior professor admitted her to hospital in March.
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Claire has said her symptoms were dismissed as a "viral infection" and "stress"Claire underwent several tests but without finding anything conclusive, days later she was given the all clear and told her cancer had not returned.
Her condition was seen as a mystery but another consultant then saw Claire, of Carlton, and wanted to carry out a full body MRI scan.
On the same day, April 6, Claire was taken into a side room and told they had found three brain tumours, which were incurable - and one was crushing the nerve to her vocal cord, the reason why she had lost her voice.
Claire was moved to the City Hospital, Nottingham, to begin treatment - where she was then told she also has lung cancer.
After surgery to have a tracheostomy fitted to help her breathe, she told Nottinghamshire Live: "It should never have come to this. I went to hospital for four weeks with a viral infection and eventually they admitted me.
"They tried to tell me it was stress. I went to neurology for a second opinion, and I was told I have three brain tumours and lung cancer".
She now remains in City Hospital where she is being treated for a chest and lung infection, and fluid around her heart.
Claire has been told her cancer is terminalChildhood friend Sasha Karimjee, 39, a support worker, said: "On April 22, they said it is not cancer. It's not returned. You are a mystery. She said, 'there must be a reason', and got a second opinion and found this".
She described Claire as "loyal, kind, caring, and a beautiful soul".
Claire brought up her four older children herself, and has a fifth child, a five-year-old called Matilda.
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Sasha, of Gedling, said the bravery of Claire's children is inspiring.
"I think the whole world should know, her children are amazing," says Sasha. "I have left the hospital ward in tears and they (the children) support me.
"I'm 40 in two weeks and I hope she makes it to my 40th".
Sasha runs a fundraiser for anyone who is in need and runs the registered charity Polly's Poppadoms - named after close friend Rachel 'Polly' Pollard, who very sadly lost her battle with cancer in November, 2016.
She is hoping people will donate to support Claire's family through this difficult time with donations made to Polly's Poppadoms (sort code - 30 90 89 - Account number - 46006668).
A drum 'n bass body workout fundraiser is being organised by friend and fitness trainer Tonylee Brown to raise money and he can be contacted here to take part.
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