Grandad dies of prostate cancer after doctors delayed diagnosis for nine years

Terry Adams first went to his GP aged 55 with symptoms including pain in his lower back and legs and urinary problems in 2012.

But after a blood test confirmed he was likely to have the deadly disease, a biopsy was ordered, yet he was never informed, and it did not go ahead.

Terry visited the doctors again several times, but he was "not believed" and was only diagnosed in 2021 aged 65.

By that point the cancer had spread to his spine and bones and become incurable.

The retired security guard, of Pontefract, Wakefield, died aged 68 in September 2024.

His heartbroken wife of 50 years, Diane, 67, has now slammed doctors and said seeing her "soul mate" suffer was "unbearable".

She said: “When he started experiencing issues Terry thought he was doing the right thing by seeking medical advice.

"However, at no stage was he led to believe there was anything serious and he may have cancer.

“What hurts the most is knowing this didn’t need to be how things turned out.

“It was unbearable for us to see his suffering and not be able to do anything.

“Terry was my best friend and soul mate.

"His last four days before he finally found peace were horrific and something I'll never ever be able to forget, especially knowing it could and should have been avoided."

Terry attended his GP surgery in March 2012 with complaining of tell-tale symptoms.

A Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test - a blood test used to help identify prostate cancer - was ordered with results showing his levels were raised in July.

Terry - a dad of four, granddad-of-11, and great-granddad-of-five - also had a known family history of the disease, with his dad and grandad receiving treatment for prostate cancer.

He was referred to hospital, and in October 2012 a consultant urologist wrote to the GP surgery advising that Terry needed an urgent prostate biopsy.

However, during a follow-up appointment, no further action was taken.

Terry was not made aware of the letter and the biopsy was never arranged for him and Terry was not told that cancer was suspected, according to his family.

Over the following years, his prostate was not properly investigated, and his PSA level was not re-checked despite him attending medical appointments complaining of ongoing symptoms in that time.

In September 2021, Terry saw a different GP.

He underwent further tests after experiencing increasing pain and tragically, he was formally diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer three months later in December

Terry was forced to retire from his job as a security guard two weeks after his diagnosis and lived in pain and was reliant on a wheelchair, according to his family.

Due to his symptoms Terry was admitted to the Prince of Wales Hospice in Pontefract in February 2024.

Sadly due to a decline in his condition he stayed there until August 5 that year before returning home.

He became reliant on Diane, and his children Mark, 51, daughter, Amanda, 50, son, David, 45, and son, Carl, 38, as well as other family members.

He sadly passed away four weeks later on 2 September 2, 2024.

Diane said: "He took to his bed and never left it. Terry survived for four weeks, but I say that loosely, as he suffered immensely.

"Prostate cancer took so much from Terry.

"He went from working, providing for his family and enjoying time with us all to being in constant pain and relying on others for almost everything. It completely changed our lives.

“At his first oncology appointment Terry was asked why he didn't attend for a biopsy as at that time the cancer would have been localised and would’ve been cured.

"However, Terry didn’t have any knowledge of this information and when he obtained his medical records from his GP surgery, there was no mention that a biopsy was needed.

“Terry became a shadow of his former self.

"He was no longer able to be the hands on family man he was and unable to help with basic household jobs such as gardening or DIY.

"This made him feel useless and added to his anxiety.

"Sadly, Terry never got closure, but at least we’ve been able to honour his memory by establishing the answers he deserved."

Before his death, Terry instructed lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate his care and secure answers.

Two GPs, who Terry had appointments with, have since admitted a breach of duty.

It was admitted that Terry’s prostate cancer should have been diagnosed in 2012 - or shortly after - while it was still ‘localised’.

Terry's family say that if his prostate cancer had been diagnosed, he could have undergone treatment to cure his cancer before it spread and became incurable.

Rebecca Tramaseur, an expert medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, representing Terry’s family said it was concerning that "key signs of the disease" were not "acted upon".

Terry's family are also raising awareness to "improve patient safety" and act to remind men of the importance of early detection and treatment.