TERRI’S STORY
FOR two years, terri McNinch tried in vain to convince doctors she was ill. and by the time her cancer was finally diagnosed, it was too late.
Mum-of-one terri, 53, died last august from carcinoid tumours – rare, slow-growing tumours usually found in the gut.
she had been asking doctors for help since early 2014.
Fiance Michael Kelly, 55, of ayr, said: “terri had breast cancer in 2013 and after surgery she was getting stomach pains.
“she thought it was the effects of the chemo and radiotherapy but when her treatment finished she was still in agony.
“it got worse and worse. she’d be doubled up in pain.
“she kept going back to the doctors and the hospital and must have had four or five endoscopies, but nothing was picked up.
“terri was the one doing all the chasing. it was unbelievably late when she was diagnosed.”
terri’s illness was finally spotted last year by a specialist at the Beatson institute in Glasgow.
doctors believed at first that they could operate to save her but she died in a hospice a month before she would have had her surgery.
Michael said: “had it been picked up earlier, her chances of survival would have been far greater.
“the last few months were pure torture for her. something must be done so more people don’t suffer like terri.”