Mum told she has terminal cancer after waiting a year for diagnosis (2025)

Steph Washington has been diagnosed with cervical cancer but believes medics 'failed' her repeatedly

A mum says her life has been "completely turned upside down" after she was told she has terminal cancer. Mother-of-three Steph Washington said she had to wait more than a year to be given the diagnosis.

Worse still, she claims doctors initially insisted her symptoms were due to an STI. Steph, 38, says she was left in constant pain with 'classic' cervical cancer symptoms.

Yet she says she was was never offered a smear test. In addition, she says she was "repeatedly failed" by the NHS as well as her GP surgery.

She said she faced a wait of more than 12 months after eight appointments with her doctor along with several emergency hospital visits. The mum claimed medical specialists failed again and again to make sure appropriate examinations and tests were conducted in order to rule out a serious condition in 2022.

She says she repeatedly given antibiotics for suspected Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and bacterial vaginosis and. Eventually, in August 2023, a biopsy found she has stage four terminal cancer - and may have just years to live.

Greens Health Centre in Dudley has since admitted medical negligence. They have accepted she would have received earlier treatment and potentially been cured with an appropriate level of care.

Now West Midlands-based Steph, of Brierley Hill, is demanding more smear testing and a year of telling people "she wasn't right". Steph, who is currently getting around-the-clock care from her parents, said: “I’m so angry and frustrated. My life has been completely turned upside down, I can no longer look after my two younger children and I’m still in constant pain.

“Having a smear test in April 2022, when my symptoms first started, would have confirmed my diagnosis or at least started the process that led to diagnosis. Instead, I kept being told I had vaginal infections - all the treatments unsurprisingly failed to work, the pain was getting worse, and I was constantly going back and forth to my GP and, later on, emergency visits to the hospital.

“I said to my mum that I had cancer, but the medical professionals were telling me it was all in my head. Then, nearly a year on from first having the symptoms, I was given the devastating news that I had stage four cervical cancer – a hammer blow in every sense of the word.

"I’m keen to back DIY home cervical screening tests on the NHS, which would help increase the number of women being screened and ultimately save lives – it would also take away some of the anxiety and make smear tests a lot easier to access. If I’d have been offered a smear test in April 2022, my outcome could have been a lot different."

Pelvic and lower back pain symptoms

Steph says she started getting persistent symptoms in April 2022. These included pelvic and lower back pain, irregular periods, unusual vaginal bleeding, offensive discharge, tiredness and unexplained weight loss.

Now, despite completing chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Steph’s condition has worsened. She is reliant on her parents to help her complete day-to-day tasks.

She remains in constant pain. The mum also rarely leaves the house - apart from for medical appointments - and she has lost 10 stone in weight.

Two of her three younger children, aged 20, 15 and 13, also now have to live with their father. The mum is now set to have complicated surgery within days that could increase her life expectancy if successful,.

Rajni Kandola, senior solicitor at Talbots Law, representing Steph, said: “It has been a privilege to support Steph throughout her journey and I’m in awe of the strength and resilience she has shown whilst dealing with such a life-changing diagnosis. Despite the turmoil she has been put through, she joins us in remaining committed to ensuring that lessons are learnt.

"We are now working with the NHS to reach a settlement, which will ensure Steph receives the specialist care and support she needs to continue to navigate life with a life-limiting disease. The NHS’ admission of liability and apology is bittersweet for Steph.

"Whilst the admission is welcome, it’s vital that improvements are made to patient safety to prevent other women from going through what she unfortunately has.” Greens Health Centre did not respond to requests for comment.

NHS symptoms of cervical cancer

According to the NHS website, signs can include:

• pain in your lower back, between your hip bones (pelvis), or in your lower tummy
• pain during sex
• changes to your vaginal discharge
• vaginal bleeding that's unusual for you – including bleeding during or after sex, between your periods or after the menopause, or having heavier periods than usual

The site adds: "If you have another condition like fibroids or endometriosis, you may get symptoms like these regularly. You might find you get used to them. But it's important to be checked by a GP if your symptoms change, get worse, or do not feel normal for you."