- Andrea Charlesworth convinced she had disease after probing symptoms
- But tests came up negative and she was diagnosed with another condition
- A week before she died an NHS helpline adviser urged her to get exercise
- The 43-year-old grandmother was found dead at her home
11:06 EST, 4 May 2014
|
02:11 EST, 5 May 2014
A mother-of-two convinced she had pancreatic cancer died from the disease after 10 months of having her fears dismissed by doctors.
Andrea Charlesworth, 43, from Ilkeston in Derbyshire began suffering from stomach pains in April last year.
When she researched her symptoms on Google and began to believe that she had either ovarian or pancreatic cancer and went straight to her doctor.
Andrea Charlesworth, 43 (right, pictured with Sister Amy), from Ilkeston in Derbyshire began suffering from stomach pains in April last year. She was convinced she had pancreatic cancer but tests did not detect it. Just 10 months later she was dead
But after tests for ovarian cancer were negative and she was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome, her family thought there was nothing too serious to worry about.
When Andrea’s health deteriorated doctors dealt with the two blood clots on her lungs but never managed to diagnose the underlying problem.
And just a week before she died in January when she was bed-bound, an NHS helpline adviser suggested she get up and do some exercise.
Family: Andrea Charlesworth with her grandson Lucas. Family paid tribute to the ‘kind and loving mum and grandma’
Far from being able to get out of bed, within six days her mother Glynis, 61, and sister Amy Charlesworth, 26, had found her dead at her home.
Amy said: ‘It’s a heart-breaking situation thinking she knew what it was for all that time.
‘We are just trying to make something positive out of a terrible situation.’
Andrea didn’t open the door when Glynis and Amy went to pick her up for a scheduled hospital appointment to treat her blood clot.
When they finally got a spare set of keys and made it in Andrea was in her bed and not breathing.
Screaming in horror, Amy ran into the street for help and called an ambulance but it was too late and neither CPR from a neighbour nor paramedics could save her.
Devastatingly, her post-mortem revealed she had been right all along. She had died from heart failure caused by pancreatic cancer.
Now her mother and sister are desperately raising awareness in the hope that the same tragedy will not strike another family.
Amy, who is doing a sponsored 10k next week to raise money for Pancreatic Cancer Action, said there is not enough education about pancreatic cancer
Stoic: Amy Charlesworth and her mother Glynis. The pair are desperately raising awareness in the hope that the same tragedy will not strike another family
DIAGNOSED LATE: THE CANCER THAT KILLS 9,000 BRITS A YEAR
Pancreatic cancer is responsible for around 9,000 deaths in the UK every year, with fewer than four per cent of patients surviving five years or more after diagnosis.
It is the ninth most common cancer – around 9,000 are diagnosed annually.
Symptoms tend to manifest once the cancer is advanced and include unexpected weight loss, upper abdominal pain and jaudice – all of which could be a multitude of illnesses.
So the condition is often diagnosed late.
Treatment ideally involves removal of the tumour, though such surgery is only suitable for up to 20 per cent of patients.
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy may also be offered.
Andrea
leaves behind a daughter Leah, 16, a son Luke, 23, and a one-year-old
grandson Lucas, as well as a large family including her two brothers
Adrian 41, and Aaron, 31.
Amy,
who is doing a sponsored 10k next week to raise money for Pancreatic
Cancer Action, said: ‘People aren’t educated well enough about
pancreatic cancer.
‘Although it’s more common in older people, it can strike young women and we want to help people realise that.
‘No-one else should have to go through what Andrea did.
‘A test suggested there was a high chance of cancer and Andrea became hysterical.
‘But an emergency ultrasound revealed she didn’t have ovarian cancer and ultimately she was never diagnosed with any kind of cancer.
‘Her laugh was unmistakable and she was well-known and well-liked by everyone.
‘But most of all she was a kind and loving mum and grandma and that’s been taken away now.’
Glynis Charlesworth (right) with her daughter Andrea. She found her dead when she went to pick her up for a scheduled hospital appointment to treat her blood clot
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The comments below have been moderated in advance.
BG.Worldwide,
Fowey, United Kingdom,
5 hours ago
When are doctors going to LISTEN to what their patients are telling them
Tracey w,
Harrow,
5 hours ago
Bloody disgusting, poor lady R.I.P.
Old Harrovian,
Toronto,
5 hours ago
Golden rule: after two weeks see a Specialist.
Nana knows best,
Blackpool, United Kingdom,
5 hours ago
It will be swept under the carpet as usual
Sarah5,
Bath, United Kingdom,
5 hours ago
I had a pancreatic endocrine tumour. My Doctors were brilliant. I had a whipples operation. I owe my life to the Doctors and the NHS.
uk yankee,
uk,
5 hours ago
Nhs is a joke!
Perfect Stranger,
London, United Kingdom,
5 hours ago
Very sad story….RIP Andrea
mahddogg,
Newcastle, United Kingdom,
6 hours ago
Funny how thousands of people die of pancreatic cancer, but still all the cancer charities push breast cancer as the priority simply because it mostly effects women, however there are a lot more cancers that kill many more and effects anybody, male or female. There is major discrimination when it comes to cancer research and treatment but because women are benefitting from it there is no outcry. We don’t hear the stories of men struck down by other cancers, why? Because men are disposable and nobody gives a damn if we die of something treatable so long as the women get theirs first.
Cinnamon,
London, United Kingdom,
6 hours ago
This is very sad. She was not a doctor but she knew something was wrong, it was her body after all. It’s very scary as I’m going through the same thing and the doctors don’t want to know. Fobbing women off is just making things worse as we know our bodies, and when something is not right we can tell straight away.
Is it me,
York, United Kingdom,
6 hours ago
Ah..the old ‘irritable bowel ‘ catch all. I dont understand why if they know pancreatic cancer is hard to diagnose that they therefore dont look more closely when patients show any of these confusing symptoms.
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