Doctors put her bleeding down to contraception issues - until it was too late
12.09.2023 - 22:19
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A woman whose cancer symptoms were ignored by doctors until it was too late has died aged 32.
Doctors repeatedly told Emma Rice her abnormal bleeding was a result of problems with her contraception and she was 'too young' for it to be anything else. Medics said her contraception had become 'misaligned' and that it had 'lacerated' her womb, but refused to perform any tests.
However, when Emma, from Birkenhead, went to have her contraception removed by a specialist she was told she could have the devastating diagnosis of cervical cancer, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features.
Emma was told they had "never seen a womb look that way which wasn't a case of cervical cancer." Emma was soon diagnosed with stage three cervical cancer, which later became stage four and spread to her lungs.
Doctors gave her just 12 months to live. Emma died on June 29, aged 32, surrounded by her family and husband David.
David - known affectionately as Dava - spoke of Emma's bravery and selflessness, even in those final months. Dava is passionate about warning others, and encouraged people with any doubt whatsoever to get checked and do a smear test.
It was also a passion of Emma's, when she spoke to the ECHO earlier this year following her diagnosis.
Dava said: "As soon as we found the news we were both devastated. Emma was traumatised because she didn't want to leave us all behind. She was brave and always put other people before herself on every occasion.
"Her body kept rejecting chemotherapy. It was January when she had to be admitted to hospice care. She remained there until June 29, when she died.
"When Emma eventually fell into a deep sleep and I stayed