A heart-wrenching case has highlighted the human cost of delayed cancer diagnosis in the NHS. Darren Rosheski's partner, Helen Dutton, died at 40 after her symptoms were initially misjudged by a GP, five years before her untimely passing in August 2021.
Helen first consulted her family doctor in late 2016 with concerning symptoms including back pain, passing blood, and altered bowel habits. Unfortunately, the GP at that time concluded these were signs of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and haemorrhoids, failing to recommend further investigation. It wasn't until two years later that she was referred to Tameside Hospital in Greater Manchester for further examination.
Examinations including CT and MRI scans, and a colonoscopy in January 2019, confirmed a diagnosis of advanced rectal cancer that had already begun to spread. Helen received extensive treatment at Manchester's Christie cancer hospital, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. Although she was given the all-clear in June 2020, her cancer returned just two months later.
Mr Rosheski pursued legal action against the NHS over what he described as a catastrophic failure to diagnose Helen's condition promptly. An out-of-court settlement for an undisclosed sum was reached in January 2026, although the NHS did not admit liability.
'I would rather be poor and have Helen still around,' Mr Rosheski said. 'A family has been destroyed by a doctor’s negligence.' His words echo the devastating impact on patients and their families due to delayed diagnosis. The couple's daughter also struggled with her mother's loss, and Mr Rosheski himself was diagnosed with PTSD and complex grief, limiting his ability to work.
Mr Rosheski's story comes as new figures reveal a concerning trend in cancer misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis across the NHS in England. Over the last five years, the NHS has paid out nearly £190 million to settle 870 claims related to such errors (NHS Resolution data). The total cost, including legal fees, has seen a substantial increase, rising from £32 million in the financial year 2020/21 to £41.3 million in 2024/25.