How can you write women off this way? How bad is that?

A gran has revealed how her aneurysm was only discovered by accident in a scan which she had for another medical condition.

The dangerous bulge on Tracy Mackey’s artery wall was only caught when she underwent a scan after developing pneumonia and whooping cough.

Tracy, 56, from East Lothian, revealed that she has a history of aneurysms in her family.

“I had a heart defect but was told at around 19 that I needed no other monitoring.

“There is a history of aneurysms in my family and it was only when I suffered from pneumonia and whooping cough that a scan revealed mine.

“It is higher up in the chest but still in the spectrum of aneurysms.

“I had no idea that this ran in families and that I should be monitored.”

Tracy is now undergoing regular scans as her doctors monitor her for the right time to operate.

“I am being monitored and when it gets to a dangerous level

I will undergo major surgery to repair it.

“I know that other women have died after not being diagnosed.

“How can you write women off in this way?”

Her daughter has also been scanned, at the age of 26. She remains aneurysm-free.

“It’s the family link that worries me,” said Tracy.

“Why are women not being screened when their parents or close relatives are diagnosed or die.

“I am stunned that this is not happening.

“How bad is it to say that it is not economical to screen women?

“Awareness is the key. Women know about breast cancer so why not this, too?

“We definitely need a drive to make younger women aware of possible causes like smoking and high blood pressure as well as cholesterol levels.

“I would love to see the whole aneurysm problem highlighted.

“It is potentially fatal but, if caught early, treatable.

“Not making devices to make surgical repairs in women is shocking.

“Women are much less likely to survive and if they have an aneurysm it progresses much faster than in men.

“The research is there for everyone to see.”

Her thoughts are echoed by Sally Callow, 42, whose aunt died suddenly.

“There is a history of aneurysms in my family, with close relatives suffering them, but I have never been informed of the need to be screened.

“If you are talking about economics then consider how much women contribute to society, at work and child care.”