Bravery of dying mother who kept terminal cancer a secret to protect her family

Tracy Jones, of Queensway, Stourbridge, did not immediately tell her husband and children after finding out cancer had spread around her body while a patient at Russells Hall hospital.

An inquest heard the 44-year-old wanted to wait until she had more information to give them - but died following a inquisitive operation on her liver.

Mrs Jones - who previously had sarcoma and breast cancer - had been suffering with breathlessness and coughing for around six weeks before being admitted to hospital on July 14.

The inquest at Smethwick Council House heard she had a low platelet count and damage to her liver.

Dr Philip Brammer, consultant respiratory physician at the Dudley hospital, said: "We were worried if what was going on was related to a tumour and particularly the ones she had before so we did a CT scan.

"She was obviously very frightened when she came in and by what was going on. When she got the scan back we were quite shocked that the changes were as extensive as they were."

The results of the scan showed cancer had spread to Mrs Jones' bones and there were tumour deposits through her pelvis and spine.

Dr Brammer said the liver damage suggested a further cancer and it was highly likely her bone marrow had been infiltrated with the disease.

He told her family: "From my conversations with Tracy it appeared she had every intention of telling you but she wanted time to make sure she knew exactly what was going on.

"She did not want us to tell you but she wanted to tell you herself when everything was in process."

The inquest heard a biopsy was necessary to confirm the type of tumour and to determine the required treatment.

But soon after it was performed on July 21 her condition deteriorated and she died. Mr Brammer said she suffered a bleed during the operation contributed to by her low platelet count and the abnormality to her liver.

Assistant Coroner David Urpeth recorded a narrative conclusion.

He said: "Mrs Jones died on the 21st of July in Russells Hall Hospital of a hepatic hematoma after a liver biopsy which had been carried out earlier the same day. I recognise the complication followed necessary medical treatment.

"Mrs Jones was clearly very brave and decided she wanted to pick the right time to talk to her family. That was extremely brave of her. She had clearly battled with problems for some time over a number of years and sadly this has taken her life."

Mrs Jones' 23-year-old daughter, Catherine, said after the inquest: "She would not have told us about the cancer. It was to protect us. It was typical of her trying to avoid us being upset."

Mrs Jones leaves husband Chris, daughters Catherine and Stephanie, and Stevie and Jessica who she also considered her children.