A Queensland mum battling cancer claims a hospital bungle cost her the chance of an early diagnosis and potentially life-saving treatment.
Chelene Watson, 52, decided to undergo a hysterectomy at Mackay Base Hospital in 2008 after suffering from debilitating endometriosis.
"After confirmation that everything went well, that I would not have any complications, later (I was told) they took out one ovary and left the other," she told 9News.
"I specifically asked the doctor, 'Do I need to have women's checks like I would normally have in the past to prevent anything down the track?'
"She confirmed that I would not need to do that."
After 12 years, Watson began to experience severe pain again so went to the doctors for scans and exploratory surgery but didn't expect the devastating findings.
"That night after, I woke up - I knew something wasn't right," she said.
"The doctor then came in and told me I had peritoneal cancer and that I instantly needed chemotherapy.
"They found that in the surgery, when they sent it to Genetics Australia, that it originated from my ovary."
Watson claims she had been told the ovary, where the cancer had originated, had been removed in the hysterectomy surgery in 2008.
The Mackay mum gave evidence to the investigation into obstetrics and gynaecology at Mackay Base Hospital and the damning findings of the inquiry were handed down last Friday.
Watson received the following response concerning her evidence.
"The Clinical Review Committee also noted that there was unclear communication regarding the status of your ovaries after the hysterectomy, in that you understood one ovary had been removed," the committee said.
"We have concluded that this represents a significant deficiency in communication.
"Unfortunately, we are of the understanding that communication deficits are not usually legally compensable."
Watson was devastated by the response and remains adamant that if she knew she had both ovaries and had been told to get checks going forward, the cancer would have been detected sooner.
By the time the doctors found Watson's cancer, it was stage 3C, which is close to terminal.
She said it has spread to her stomach lining, appendix, uterus and lung.
Watson has vowed to continue fighting both the cancer and the failings of the hospital.
