A SCHOOLGIRL died of cancer six weeks after her doctor diagnosed a viral infection and sent her home.
Shelley Petrie, 16, died on Hogmanay after an aggressive cancer spread through her lungs and lymph glands.
Last night, her anguished parents said the GP had been too quick to send Shelley away with a prescription.
And they believe they could have had more time with her if she had been able to receive treatment sooner.
Shelley, from Glenrothes, Fife, first felt ill on November 21, when she complained about a sore throat, cough and back pain.
Her parents took her to the doctor on November 24 and say the discomfort was put down to a viral infection.
But after a week, her neck had swollen dramatically.
Her dad Brian, 45, and mum Sandra Ballingall, 50, took her to Glenrothes Hospital and she was sent to Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, where a biopsy was taken from one of her lymph glands.
On December 13, Shelley had tests at Edinburgh's Sick Kids Hospital and doctors diagnosed cancer on December 15.
Brian said: "After she passed away, the doctor said he had never, in 21 years, seen a cancer so aggressive."
Sandra, added: "We can't believe it. Six weeks ago, she was running about with her friends and looking forward to Christmas."
"We took her to the doctors on November 24 and they put it down to a viral infection and said come back in a fortnight.
"A week into that we called NHS 24 because her neck had doubled in size.
"I don't want any other parents to go through this. Doctors do make mistakes and they did this time. If they're not sure what something is, they should send them straight to the hospital."
Sandra, who was still grieving after her mother died from cancer in June, said Shelley's boyfriend had been "floored" by her death and her classmates at Auchmuty High School were devastated.
Raith Rovers fan Shelley was a member of the Girls' Brigade at Glenrothes Baptist Church and wanted to become a nurse when she left school.
Sandra said: "She wanted to be a nurse for sick children. She always wanted to care for people.
"Shelley was bright, fun and loving and had an excellent sense of humour.
She added: "Staff at Victoria Hospital were excellent and staff at the Sick Kids were excellent.
"I just wish they could have done more but they could not have done any more."
Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa (ninjiom-hk.cwahi.net) may be another choice. i know alot of people use it, its also non alcoholic, though it's effectiveness is not as good as alcohol based cough medicine, but it's still good to use on not so serious sore throat.
ReplyDelete