Candice Powell, a 29-year-old mother from Kent, fears her 17-year-old son Charlie will be left alone if she cannot raise £50,000 for life-prolonging treatment in Germany. Her stage four cervical cancer returned after NHS doctors at Maidstone Hospital failed to inform her of an abnormality on a CT scan in May 2024, delaying diagnosis by two months.
Missed diagnosis and delayed treatment
In May 2024, Candice visited Maidstone Hospital with frequent vomiting and pain. Doctors diagnosed gastritis and discharged her. When symptoms persisted, she returned in July, where another scan was taken and she was again told she was fine. The following morning, the hospital called to say there had been a mix-up: the first scan had shown an abnormality, but she had not been told. The second scan revealed a mass. By early August, it was confirmed her cervical cancer had returned and was now stage four, having metastasised in three areas, including near the sciatic nerve in her left leg.
Candice said: “They failed me. They were meant to be looking after me. Obviously, I was in remission, but you come back every year. You would think that with someone who had cancer, they would make sure.”
Previous cancer battle and remission
Candice was first diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2019 after an abnormal smear test. She underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy and was told she was in remission in 2020. At the time, she co-owned a cleaning company with her sister and was rebuilding her life. “I had come out the other end, was getting back to normal, building my business up, and then it all just came to a complete stop. It’s like I took two steps forward and 10 back,” she said.
Surgery and current prognosis
In November 2024, Candice underwent surgery at The Royal Marsden Hospital in London to remove a tumour the size of a toilet roll tube. She also had a hysterectomy and a colostomy bag fitted. She said: “Sometimes I think maybe if I'd been told before, and got the treatment when I needed it, would all this be happening? Would my body be changed like it is now? I've got a son out here that needs me - he's lost his dad. You go to the hospital to get help, and you don't get it.”
Her son Charlie lost his father when he was nine. Candice described him as her “best mate” and said she fears he will be left without both parents if she cannot get treatment. The NHS has offered chemotherapy, but it is expected only to prolong her life, not cure her, due to the aggressive progression of the cancer.
Alternative treatment in Germany
After researching alternatives, Candice found the Hallwang Clinic in Dornstetten, Germany, a private oncology centre offering immunotherapy. She needs at least £50,000 to start treatment. A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise the funds. Candice said: “All I want is to be a normal person - I just want to go to work, go home, and just get on with it. I don't want to be asking people for any help. I hate it. It's just weird for me to actually have to do this. But, I need to hurry up - time is not on my side, but there is someone out there who can help me.”
She added: “It’s giving me hope, but I just need the money to get there. People are walking in that clinic with stage four cancer and walking out cancer-free or in remission. I’ve got to do this for my friends, my family and my son - he is my main priority.”
NHS Trust response
A spokesperson for Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust said: “We recognise how difficult it is for any patient to move from a period of remission to facing another cancer diagnosis, and we understand the impact this has on them and their family. While we cannot discuss individual cases publicly, Candice has shared her concerns with us directly, and we have responded to the issues she has raised and will continue to liaise with her. We are continuing to provide her with care and support, and we encourage any patient who has further questions or worries about their treatment to get in touch with us so we can help.”
