A grieving mother, represented by our medical negligence team, is searching for justice after her 35-year-old son died of cancer on his birthday, after medics failed to spot tumours on two separate occasions.

Nathan Daniels, and his mother Nelda, were even told he, ‘did not have cancer’ by a doctor hours before a massive tumour put so much pressure on his spine that it paralysed him. He was rushed back to Glangwili General Hospital in Carmarthen the same day, where he was finally diagnosed with lymphoma.

Nelda, 62, from Carmarthen, South Wales, who herself has been diagnosed with cancer three times, has instructed our medical negligence team to take civil action against Hywel Dda NHS Trust. She said: 

The doctor looked at me and said that after all the blood tests and x-rays that he did not have cancer. But I just knew that wasn’t true because he was in so much pain and it was the same pain that I had with cancer. The doctor sent us home and told Nathan to ‘get some fresh air’. We struggled to get him in the taxi but once he was in, he said he couldn’t feel anything from the waist down.

“We rushed back to hospital, and they did another scan and then that is when they told us that Nathan had cancer.”

He first went to A&E suffering from joint and chest pain in September 2023, but his condition was assessed as being a rheumatology issue. 

In February 2024 he had an x-ray which showed a mass on his spine, but it was missed by medics. Less than two weeks later he returned to A&E with severe pain and weight loss. An x-ray showed a mass was eroding a rib but he was sent home and returned later the same day with paralysis. 

Nathan had an emergency operation on 27 February to remove the tumour. He developed pneumonia while still in hospital and on 26 March he went into a coma. He died on 28 March – his birthday – from multiple organ failure.

Thomas Cullen, specialist medical negligence lawyer said: 

This is a horrifically tragic death of a young man that could have been prevented. While we are grateful for the trust’s apology, we would urge them to settle this matter, as soon as possible, so that my client can start to try and rebuild her life.”

The trust has apologised for their failings after carrying out their own investigation into Nathan’s treatment.

If you or someone close to you has experienced a similar failure by a hospital or NHS trust, we understand the pain and frustration that this brings. While we cannot change what has happened, we are here to support you in your pursuit of answers and accountability, and to help ensure that others do not have to go through the same ordeal.

For further information and support please contact us on 0151 227 1429, or make an enquiry for a confidential conversation about how we can help you seek justice and accountability.