Wales: Woman with Cervical Cancer Says Doctors Ignored Symptoms for Years

A woman in Wales who was later diagnosed with cervical cancer says repeated delays in her diagnosis caused lasting physical and emotional harm.

Jessica Mason, 44, says doctors dismissed her symptoms for years before she finally received urgent cancer treatment. As a result, she says she has lost trust in the healthcare system.

Years of Unanswered Symptoms

Jessica, who lives in Penarth in the Vale of Glamorgan, began experiencing vaginal pain, swelling, and bleeding in 2019. She visited her GP and hospital several times, but doctors did not identify the cause.

Medical staff carried out ultrasounds, which showed no clear problem. Over time, doctors suggested different explanations, including a cyst, endometriosis, and prolapse. They advised pelvic floor exercises.

Jessica says she trusted the doctors at first. However, the symptoms continued and worsened.

“I knew there was something wrong,” she said. “But I felt like I wasn’t being believed.”

A smear test carried out six months before her diagnosis also showed no abnormalities.

A Scan After Begging for Answers

In May 2022, Jessica returned to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff for ultrasound results. Doctors told her the womb lining looked normal.

At that point, she broke down in tears and asked for further tests. She says doctors then offered her an MRI scan, mainly to reassure her.

The MRI results came back in June 2022. Doctors told her she had stage 1B3 cervical cancer. The tumour measured more than four centimetres but remained confined to the cervix.

Jessica began chemotherapy and radiotherapy in August 2022. The treatment lasted five weeks.

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Impact on Family and Future

The treatment forced Jessica into early menopause. As a result, she had to give up plans to have another child.

She says the illness also affected her teenage son and daily life.

“I couldn’t cook or clean. I couldn’t even take my son to school,” she said.

Jessica believes doctors should have referred her for an MRI much earlier. She also questioned whether earlier scanning could have reduced the need for intensive treatment.

Further Surgery and Ongoing Anxiety

In February 2023, a follow-up MRI showed the tumour had not fully cleared. Doctors then recommended a hysterectomy, which she underwent in July 2023.

Jessica says her health has never fully recovered. She can now only work part-time and still experiences occasional bleeding. Doctors plan further biopsies.

“I’m always worried they’ll miss something again,” she said. “What if next time I don’t survive it?”

She is also considering legal action and has accused the health board of delaying access to her medical records.

Wider Concerns Over Women’s Cancer Care

Jessica’s case comes amid broader concerns about gynaecological cancer care in Wales.

A recent Senedd health committee report found that women continue to face delays in diagnosis and treatment. The report criticised the Welsh government for failing to act on earlier recommendations.

According to the report, only 41 percent of patients started cancer treatment within the 62-day target in October 2025. The committee described this as a critical failure.

Cancer charity Tenovus said the findings were deeply worrying and showed limited progress.

Official Responses

The Welsh government says it is working with the NHS to improve early diagnosis and treatment. It acknowledged that current performance does not meet expected standards.

A spokesperson for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said it could not comment on individual cases due to ongoing legal matters. However, the board expressed regret over Jessica’s experience.

A Call for Change

Jessica believes women’s health concerns are often dismissed too easily.

“Women’s symptoms are often brushed off as normal,” she said. “That has to change.”

Her story has renewed calls for faster referrals, better listening, and stronger accountability in women’s healthcare.