A devastated mum has shared her heartache after her 27-year-old daughter died unexpectedly. Andrea Brady’s world was turned upside down on December 20, 2020, when her “precious” daughter Jessica Brady passed away suddenly.
In the six months leading up to her death, Andrea says Jess had reached out to her GP surgery 20 times. She alleges that none of the four GPs who saw her took her symptoms seriously.
“She had been ill for six months, but the spring/summer lockdown meant face-to-face consultations with her GP were restricted and numerous antibiotics were prescribed, even in the absence of a physical examination,” Andrea added. “Jessica was told for months she was suffering from Long Covid despite two negative coronavirus tests.”
Jess was finally diagnosed with cancer following a private referral on November 26, 2020. Her dependency on oxygen from this date meant she did not leave the hospital or ever return home.
Jess discovered that she had stage 4 adenocarcinoma with an unknown primary. It had spread throughout her body, to her spine, liver, stomach, lungs and lymph nodes.
Adenocarcinoma is a type of cancer that starts in the mucous glands inside of organs like the lungs, colon, or even breasts. Tumours can form if your glandular cells begin to change or grow out of control.
“In trying to make sense of what happened to Jess, I began to realise that Jess’ age was a major stumbling block to achieving a necessary swift and accurate diagnosis,” the mum revealed. “This is why, in early 2021, I launched a campaign on Change.org, calling for ‘Jess’ Law’.
“This legislation would mean that a patient’s case would be elevated for review after the third contact with their GP surgery about a condition or symptom. The petition created in Jess’ name ‘Jess’s Law – Improve the awareness and diagnosis of cancer in young adults’ has highlighted the scale of the problem, of young people in particular, not receiving the care they deserve.”
Jessica’s family described her as someone who “radiated kindness and positivity”. They added: “She was gentle, funny, courageous, and loving, without question a beautiful person inside and out.
“Jess loved so many things. Walking in the woods, pink blossom on trees, delicious cakes and herbal teas, preparing travel itineraries, lighting fragrant candles, relaxing baths, fairy lights, fluffy flat-faced cats, creating and making, films, books, and musicals.”
Jess is not an isolated case, reports Surrey Live. Numerous individuals have come forward to share the stories of their young family members whose lives have been cut short due to late or non-existent cancer diagnoses.
The campaign for Jess’ Law has garnered immense support, with over 358,000 people signing the petition on Change.org, and the numbers are still climbing. Andrea commented: “Both NHS England and The Royal College of General Practitioners have supported the principle of Jess’s Law. However, we need the government to take action to ratify the legislation.
“Adding your signature to this petition will have an impact. The more people who show the Secretary of State for Health, Wes Streeting, and this government they wish to protect the people they love the most, the more quickly positive change will happen.
“We know that GPs often do not deviate from their initial diagnosis – we need them to be curious and empower them to rethink. If Jess’s Law is ratified, then they will feel supported in ruling out the worst-case scenario at the earliest opportunity.”
Last year, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care told The Telegraph that discussions were “continuing” between the family and the department. They stated: “It is clear opportunities to diagnose Jessica sooner were missed and the Secretary of State has met her parents on two occasions to discuss how to prevent similar tragedies happening in future.”
The Royal College of GPs (RCGP) is collaborating with Jessica’s family to create “new educational resources to further support GPs with cancer diagnoses”. Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the RCGP, emphasised: “It’s critical that symptoms are picked up on quickly and appropriate action taken, including rethinking the approach if problems persist over multiple consultations.”
In a heartbreaking X post, Andrea wrote: “Jess was a lover of life, she didn’t want to die. She filled journals full of plans – big and small. Growing her own vegetables, visiting Japan. One day, she hoped to have children. She’d grown from her pink cheeked, sweet natured baby into a caring and skilled scientist.”
Cancer Research UK has revealed that the incidence of ‘early onset’ cancer, affecting young individuals aged 20 to 34, has hit its highest level in three decades. Eight out of ten cases are linked to the digestive system.
In the UK, the rate of cancer cases in individuals aged 25 to 49 rose by about 22% from 1993-95 to 2016-18. Conversely, the rates for those aged 75 and older saw a smaller increase of approximately 9%.
Andrea states: “Currently, this age group is not prioritised although many cancers are aggressive and require immediate treatment. Despite being too young to be ignored, they often are. They are the forgotten generations.”
Towards the end of last month, NHS England released its new Primary Care Safety Strategy. Andrea was given the chance to read and comment on earlier drafts of the strategy. “An account, provided by us, of Jessica’s late diagnosis and ultimate death dominates page 5 of a 32-page strategy,” she said.
Jessica’s family has been vigorously petitioning to raise awareness and hasten the diagnosis of cancer in young adults, setting up the Jessica Brady CEDAR Trust which accumulates funds “to support earlier cancer diagnosis within primary care”.
Early cancer diagnosis is key to survival
It is widely accepted that early-stage cancer, spotted before it can grow significantly or metastasize, considerably boosts the prospects of effective treatment.
The earlier cancer is detected, the more likely it is that a person can be successfully treated. Hence, it is vital to consult a doctor without delay upon noticing any unusual bodily changes. The UK offers several national screening programs that aim to catch cancer in its infancy.
Cancer screening, it should be clarified, refers to procedures implemented to detect early traces of cancer in individuals displaying no symptoms – this differs from diagnostic tests that clinicians employ to pinpoint and address cancer.
Cancer Research UK says: “When it comes to your body, you know it best. If you notice anything that isn’t normal for you, or if something doesn’t feel quite right, take charge and speak to your doctor. In most cases it won’t be cancer – but if it is, finding it early can make a real difference.”
Symptoms of adenocarcinoma cancer:
Adenocarcinoma symptoms vary depending on the location of the cancer. Some common symptoms include:
- Lung adenocarcinoma: A chronic cough that produces phlegm or blood, chest pain, wheezing, shortness of breath, hoarseness, and weight loss.
- Colorectal cancer: Blood in stool, persistent diarrhoea or constipation, and rectal bleeding.
- Prostate cancer: Painful urination, blood in urine, erectile dysfunction, and trouble emptying the bladder.
- Pancreas cancer: Jaundice, dark urine, light-coloured stools, and bloating.
- Esophagus cancer: Difficulty swallowing, heartburn, regurgitation, and persistent hiccups.
- Small intestine cancer: Sudden severe pain, nausea, vomiting, weakness, fatigue, lightheadedness, and passing out.
- Breast cancer: A lump in the breast or under the armpit, thickening or swelling of the breast, nipple discharge, breast pain, and irritation or dimpling of the breast skin.
Other symptoms include:
- Pain near the affected organ
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Bloating
- Recurring lung infections
- Unexplained weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Feeling tired or weak
