Woman, 26, who died of cancer urged others to see doctor if they felt unwell
A young woman who was sent away by doctors more than 10 times before her cancer was diagnosed told her mother: 'I don’t want anybody else to suffer like I’ve had to suffer.'
Writing in her journal before she died Dhneep Bains - known as Neepy - urged others to see their GP "if you feel weird in any shape or form".
The 26-year-old died in July after she was diagnosed with stage 4 Ewing sarcoma of the pelvis and a secondary growth on the lung.
Ms Bains, of Rowhedge near Colchester in Essex, wrote in her journal before she died: "One piece of advice I can guarantee particularly the ages between 35 and under – if you feel weird in any shape or form, body feels different, continuous pain or even if it’s a one off – GO TO YOUR DOCTOR!!!!!!!
"No matter how little or small your problem you make sure you get your arse down there and keep going if they send you packing."
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Her mother, Ram Waltho-Brar, said Ms Bains asked her to share her story and said her daughter told her: "I don’t want anybody else to suffer like I’ve had to suffer."
She is sharing her daughter's story as part of Teenage Cancer Trust’s #BestToCheck campaign.
The campaign urges doctors to make referrals at the earliest opportunity - even when they have lower levels of suspicion.
The Teenage Cancer Trust is also reminding young people of the common signs and symptoms of cancer.
The charity is urging them to contact their GP at the earliest opportunity despite the pressure coronavirus has placed on the NHS.
Ms Waltho-Brar said: "For me it’s important to get this awareness out there for her sake, for her memory’s sake as well, and for everybody else actually too.
"Everybody should be given that chance of early diagnosis."
Ms Waltho-Brar said doctors told her that her daughter would have had better treatment options and would have lived longer if she had been diagnosed at an earlier stage.
Aspiring hairdresser, Ms Bains first went to see a doctor about pain in her foot in March 2017.
Her mother said she went back several times but did not see the same doctor each time, due to a system of rotation at the surgery.
She said Ms Bains was recommended to ride a bike, do stretches and yoga.
Ms Waltho-Brar said that by April 2018 her daughter was crying in pain and dragging her leg.
She said she took her to A&E and was first sent away with painkillers, before Ms Bains had a scan on a further visit, when her mother demanded it.
She was admitted to hospital and diagnosed with cancer, undergoing 26 rounds of chemotherapy, starting in May 2018, and six to eight weeks of radiotherapy, alongside gruelling side-effects.
"Parents shouldn’t have to lose their child at such an early age," said Ms Waltho-Brar.
She said: "Neepy was very kind-hearted, bubbly, she was fun to be around and she had a great sense of humour, always joking, smiling, no matter what."
Dr Louise Soanes, director of services at the Teenage Cancer Trust, said: “Cancer is thankfully rare in teenagers and young adults, accounting for just 1% of all cancer diagnosis.
But she added "because cancer is less common in this age group, they often have to visit their doctor numerous times before they get a diagnosis."
The Teenage Cancer Trust is urging all young people to look out for lumps, bumps or swellings, unexplained tiredness, mole changes, persistent pain or significant weight change.