Last updated at 4:12 PM on 13th September 2010
A mother-of-three has been given just months to live after doctors failed to diagnose her cancer during 20 examinations.
Catherine Watkins was failed repeatedly by medical staff in Southend, Essex, despite losing two stone and being in so much pain she could barely move.
The 55-year-old started suffering severe abdominal pain in December and has been rushed to the A&E department of Southend Hospital four times in the past nine months.
Doctors insisted Mrs Watkins, who also suffers from diabetes, simply had gallstones and refused to give her a CT scan.
Last month the foster carer was finally given a scan after her daughter forcefully argued her case. Medical staff then discovered Catherine had advanced liver and pancreatic cancer.
Southend University Hospital are currently investigating the cancer patient's treatment.
Mrs Watkins told The Sun: 'I went to the doctors and they fobbed me off. I knew something was seriously wrong.'
She said she is suffering from a lot of pain in her back but has refused to take strong painkillers yet.
Doctors have conceded there is little they can do because the cancer is so far advanced.
It comes just a week after Angela Skeffington was told she had terminal stomach cancer after her condition was missed by 11 doctors.
The 43-year-old, also a mother of three, had been misdiagnosed as period pains, depression and even indigestion. Despite seeking medical help since April, it was only when Angela was given a CT scan a fortnight ago that she learned the terrible news.
Meanwhile Mrs Watkins is focusing on performing a charity sky dive to raise money for Pancreatic Cancer UK, along with 10 friends and family members.
Mrs Watkins said: 'It was on a wishlist of things I had always wanted to do. Then I thought I might be able to raise some money for cancer research at the same time'
Her proud husband, Robert, 61, suffers from a bad back but will be watching the event from the ground.
He told the Southend Standard: 'I am very sad, but also proud of what she’s doing. She’s not frightened of anything.
'The jump is just something she wanted to do. I’ll be there holding the bags and cheering everyone on.'
From: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1311519/I-knew-seriously-wrong-Mother-diagnosed-cancer-20-examinations.html
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