A mother has been given a prognosis of only four months to live after her cancer was reportedly overlooked by medical professionals, leading her daughter to express deep disappointment and mistrust in the healthcare system.
Janice Davis, aged 67, received the devastating news about her stomach cancer potentially being detected earlier during a medical consultation with her husband, Phil. Previously diagnosed with bladder cancer and having undergone surgery in 2021, Janice has been enduring multiple health issues, including infections, nausea, stomach discomfort, and difficulty in maintaining a healthy weight.
Despite undergoing various medical tests, including MRI and CT scans, as well as regular visits to her general practitioner and investigative procedures, Janice was consistently reassured that nothing was amiss, according to her daughter. However, doctors at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield informed Janice that her advanced stomach cancer had been missed despite being visible on MRI scans from a year prior.
In a poignant apology letter, a physician acknowledged the missed diagnosis, stating, “I have had a candid discussion today about this and apologized for the missed detection of gastric cancer. I have expressed regret on behalf of the medical team and assured her that the issue has been raised in our radiology meetings.”
Given only a short time to live, Janice expressed her shock and devastation in an interview with The Mirror, highlighting her disbelief at the medical error that led to her dire prognosis. Her daughter, Rebecca, also conveyed her frustration and sorrow, emphasizing her lack of trust in the healthcare system following the alleged oversight.
Despite the grim outlook, Janice’s family remains hopeful and is exploring alternative treatment options abroad. Seeking specialized care in Germany, which offers advanced cancer therapies not available in the UK, they aim to raise funds for Janice’s treatment, which includes a personalized vaccine derived from her blood and immunotherapy.
In a bid to cover the treatment costs, Rebecca initiated a crowdfunding campaign on JustGiving, stressing the urgency of the situation and the potential life-extending benefits of the proposed therapy. The family is determined to pursue legal action against the NHS trust while continuing their efforts to secure the necessary funding for Janice’s medical care.