Mum-of-two diagnosed with cervical cancer given months to live after GP left voicemail on broken phone

A mum-of-two has been given just months to live, after a GP left her a voicemail on a broken phone and she missed the message.

Rachel Kennedy 33, from East Whitburn, had gone to her GP in June 2020 and had a phone consultation, before getting tests two months later.

Her doctor left a message a few days laters asking her to come in for an examination, but Rachel never got the voicemail.

Three months later Rachel Kennedy then discovered she had stage three cervical cancer.

In October 2020, after suffering more bleeding, Rachel had an examination and was referred for a biopsy, before being told she had cancer.

Rachel’s dad, Robert MacIntyre, thinks if she had been seen earlier the cancer would be more manageable.

The 58-year-old told the Daily Record: "We as a family feel severely let down by the system. We're really disappointed.

"The GP practice has admitted that there is a loophole in the system and has assured us that this will be changed in future.

"Unfortunately this does not help our situation. We feel that due to this delay they are responsible for some of the deterioration in Rachel’s condition."

Rachel, a senior test analyst at Tesco Bank, had treatment in January 2021, but the following month it was found the "aggressive" cancer had spread to both of her lungs.

Rachel has now tragically been given just months to live.

Fundraising efforts

Rachel’s oncologist submitted an application for her to receive immunotherapy through the NHS, after the latest diagnosis.

However, Rachel’s family were heartbroken when it was rejected on the grounds that there was not enough clinical evidence.

To try and give Rachel as much time as possible while a cure is searched for, they have now launched a fundraising effort to get treatment privately.

Her family wrote: "Rachel tells us that although she has some aches and pains she still has ‘plenty more to give’ and ‘wants to do everything she can to spend some more time with her two little boys’."

The ‘Help Cure Rachel Kennedy - Cervical Cancer’ fundraising page has so far raised £60,090 of its £156,000 goal.

To make a donation, visit the fundraising page.