Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Tumour missed on 14 GP visits kills woman
A WOMAN died from an undiagnosed tumour after visiting doctors 14 times – only to be told it was migraine and given painkillers.
Stephanie Dickson, 24, told her best friend she thought she may have a brain tumour as she suffered for nine months with a sore neck, severe headaches and dizziness.
At one point the pain was so bad she went to A&E and was put on a drip but sent home the next day.
The “happy, fit and intelligent” office worker was found dead in bed by her family only hours later.
Stephanie was found to have a benign tumour that caused a huge build-up of pressure in her skull.
Specialists said had she got the right treatment, even up until the night before she died, she would have had a 98% chance of survival.
Laura Aberdour, 27, her best friend from school in Edinburgh, said: “I remember going to the gym with her one day and she suggested then she might have a brain tumour.
“I remember saying, ‘Oh, don’t say that’ but I think she knew all along something wasn’t quite right. She persistently went to the doctors.” Laura, who is planning a fundraising night for the Brain Tumour Charity in her memory, is urging young sufferers to never back away if they think they have something wrong, adding: “I guess when you’re young you think you’re invincible.”
NHS Lothian said: “We offer our most sincere condolences.”