"The late diagnosis was too late"

Jumping hurdles! How do you get over the first couple? My son, aged 31, wakes with extreme pain in his neck area. The month - April 2006. His last visit to his doctor - more than 10 years previously, so he's not a nuisance.

Doctor, around July, after much painkilling treatment, refers him to Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby to see a specialist in the treatment of necks, shoulders etc.

October 2006 is the eventual date of his appointment. My son sees a locum, who gives a cursory examination and declares a "frozen shoulder". Son not entirely satisfied with the suggestion of physio - because he had been undergoing physio on a regular basis. Locum says he'll organise an x-ray - which takes place at the end of December.

This x-ray on his shoulder shows nothing. In acute and even in extreme pain, my son is persuaded by us to go private. As a result he sees the specialist that he should have seen originally if he'd been taken seriously.

This man says the original diagnosis was wrong. Emergency MRI is ordered - this takes place 5 weeks later in February 2007. The MRI reveals a tumour in the spine. Having been invited to walk into the scanner room, my son leaves strapped to a board and is transferred to Hull Royal Infirmary, where thankfully he is put under the care of the same specialist and where at last he is taken seriously.

Unfortunately, the late diagnosis was too late, because the cancer spread to all areas of the body, and my son died January 2009 aged 33.