A grieving family are fighting to help others after a young mum of two died after her cervical cancer was said to have been mistaken for a side-effect of a Covid jab. Katie Pritchard went to a GP with a lump but was told it could be the result of a vaccination or an undiagnosed STI, relatives claimed.
Katie, from Tysoe in Stratford, discovered she had cervical cancer when she referred herself to a gynaecologist for a second opinion, but then had to wait three months for treatment to begin, her family said. She tragically died at the age of 37, just four months after marrying her husband Tom Cronin.
Her family has now launched a fundraising campaign in her memory so ‘others do not have to go through her ordeal.’ It is hoped they will raise £40,000 to help support patients and their families, reports BirminghamLive.
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Dad Peter Pritchard said the Old Gold Racing in Gloucestershire was donating a horse for syndication called Sunny Dancer. He said: “While nothing can replace the void her passing has left, we want to honour her life and her story by spreading awareness about this deadly disease, which so many disregard the early signs of.”
Half of the money will support the Lady Garden Foundation, which tackles taboos, raises awareness and funds research. The remaining £20,000 will go to Jos Cervical Cancer Trust.
Speaking to BirminghamLive, family members said Katie initially responded well to treatment but she found out the cancer had returned in December 2022. It had spread to her shoulder, spine, and pelvis and lung. Katie spent her final months close to her loved ones, including her children, four-year-old Percy and two-year-old Cass.
Louise Newton, Trustee at Jos Cervical Cancer Trust, said: “We are very saddened to hear the devastating news that Katie lost her life to this cancer, as did my wonderful friend Jo, 25 years ago. We are honoured to be part of celebrating her life and we are dedicated to improving outcomes for people like her and her family. Our vision for the future is of a day when cervical cancer is a thing of the past.”
Katies Legacy Syndicate is set to have 2,000 members, who will each pay a fee of £60. Each will receive official ownership documents and an optional branded keepsake box to authenticate the purchase, reports BirminghamLive.
Founder of The Lady Garden Foundation, Jenny Halpern, said: “In the UK, around 3,100 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year and it is the most common cancer in women under 35. It is so important this cause gets as much funding as possible and we are incredibly grateful to Peter and his family for helping us on our mission.”
Shipston Medical Centre, where Katie says she was misdiagnosed, has previoously said they cannot comment on individual cases. A spokesperson for the practice said: “We are unable to comment on an individual’s care and treatment.”
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