Keely Devine, 23, complained of pain and heavy bleeding after giving birth to son Jayden in 2010 – but blundering docs failed to notice before it was too late. A devastated mother whose daughter died of cervical cancer is suing the NHS after doctors failed to notice the warning signs of her condition NINE times.
Keely Devine, from Armley in Leeds, first complained of pain and heavy bleeding in 2010 – but she was told she was ‘too young’ to have a smear test.
Keely Devine was just 23 when she died of cervical cancer - after doctors failed to spot the signs [SWNS]
Heartbreakingly, she died three years later, leaving behind her young son, Jayden.
Her family has sought the help of medical lawyers and are suing the National Health Service for neglect as they think more could be done to have saved their daughter.
Keely’s health problems started just after the birth of her son Jayden in September 2010, when she complained of pain in the left side of her hip, heavy bleeding, abdominal pain and discharge.
She visited her GP on more than six occasions and went to hospital three times – but it took two-and-a-half years before she was diagnosed with cervical cancer, in January 2013.
By the time she was diagnosed, it was too late. She had a large tumour measuring 5cm x 6cm x 3cm, which was obstructing her cervix and had spread into her pelvis.
She began a six-week course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy on 19 February 2013, which caused her to suffer side effects including severe sickness, vomiting and weight loss.
Keely visited her GP and hospital NINE times before they spotted the cancer - but it was too late [SWNS]
Within three months, the cancer had begun to affect her bowel and bladder and she was admitted to hospital with extreme constipation.
Her family were informed in June 2013 that it had been too late to treat the cancer and that Keely’s condition was terminal.
She died on 7 September 2013 after spending four and a half months fighting for her life on the Teenage Cancer Ward at St James’ Hospital in Leeds, West Yorkshire.
Now her heartbroken mum Alexandra Dickinson has sought the help of medical lawyers to investigate whether more could have been done to save her daughter.
“As a family we are still coming to terms with losing Keely and in such tragic circumstances,” said Alexandra, who is now looking after Keeley's three-year-old son Jayden,
"She had her whole life ahead of her and was looking forward to watching Jayden grow up.
“Instead her life was cut short and now I hope we can find answers as to why this could happen to my daughter and find out why, after she repeatedly complained to doctors about the pain and discomfort she was experiencing, that she was not diagnosed sooner.
“It was heartbreaking to see her struggling with her illness as it took hold in the last few months of her life. She was incredibly frightened and in a great amount of pain.
"She began to struggle to communicate with us and was finding it increasingly difficult to cope with her deterioration. 
The 23-year-old died in hospital after fighting for her life for four and a half months [SWNS]
“She became wheelchair bound and extremely weak. She wanted to spend time with Jayden, but she didn’t want him to see and remember her in so much pain and distress.
“Before she died, Keely was studying for a qualification in health and social care as she wanted to become a social worker. She was determined to gain this qualification so that she could give Jayden the best life possible.
“I hope that with the help from my legal team at Irwin Mitchell that we will be able to find out if more could have been done to diagnose her cervical cancer earlier so that the NHS can learn any lessons from her care. No other young girls or mothers should have to go through what she did.”
The medical lawyers that are representing Alexandra think it’s time doctors start to focus on the symptoms of cervical cancer – NOT a person’s age.
“This is a heartbreaking situation as Keely was only 23-years-old when she died and also leaves behind a young son,” said Rachelle Mahapatra, Partner and Medical Law Expert at Irwin Mitchell’s Leeds office.
“In the couple of years before her death Keely had made multiple visits to her GP and the hospital and we are investigating if more could have been done to spot the cervical cancer earlier.
Keely's mum is now suing the hospital for not spotting the warning signs sooner [SWNS]
“Although cervical cancer in young women is rare, our specialist medical law team has dealt with a number of cases involving women in their twenties from across the country whose cervical cancer was initially missed by doctors.
“Delays in promptly diagnosing and treating cervical cancer can have devastating consequences and it is vital that doctors focus on the symptoms rather than the age of a woman when deciding whether or not it might be cancer.
“In this case we are still in the early stages of our investigation as her devastated family just want answers as to what happened during her care.
“They know nothing can turn back the clock but, this case is about highlighting any potential issues and lessons that can be learnt to hopefully prevent other young women from suffering as Keely did.”
We hope Alexandra gets those answers she deserves for herself, her daughter and Keely’s son she leaves behind.
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