A woman who claims she was misdiagnosed with a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) when she actually had ovarian cancer alleges doctors didn't test her for the condition because they thought she was too young to get it.

Heidi Crawford, 42, was finally diagnosed with ovarian cancer in September 2016 and had to have a hysterectomy following her diagnosis.

The riding instructor from Wigan, Greater Manchester, alleges she went to her local GP on three separate occasions but not once was she examined.

She said: "I fully believe if my cancer had been picked up it wouldn't have spread to the extent that it has.

"I have looked upon my cancer diagnosis as being the biggest challenge of my life.

"I live in the moment but every so often the mask slips, each and every day can be a struggle.

"It is a part of me and I have to live with it so I have made peace with it.

"I have no intention of spending however much time I have left wallowing in self pity and despair. That is just not me.

"I have down days like everyone but I also have an awesome network of family and friends that have been there for me every step of the way."

Heidi said she originally went to see her GP after she repeatedly had to get up in the night to go to the toilet.

She claims that she visited her doctor on three separate occasions and on each occasion she was not examined for possible signs of ovarian cancer.

She said: "I was examined after I found a lump in my breast in February 2016 and within two weeks had a mammogram.

"It turned out to be benign cyst.

"In March I started to go the loo more frequently.

"By this time I was very bloated all the time I was having frequent indigestion and had trouble eating my meals even though I was hungry. I also had lower back pain, abdominal pain and shooting pains.

"The doctor said I had a UTI and then irritable bladder syndrome.

"Something didn't feel right though. I went back a few times and wasn't examined at all which was appalling."

Eventually, Heidi was given an ultrasound scan where doctors discovered she had stage three ovarian cancer.

She said: "I went back and said I wasn't happy at all and could feel a lump in my stomach.

"I had an ultrasound scan and that's when the nightmare began."

Heidi is currently living with stage 3B cancer and faces an uncertain future.

Heidi is undertaking a "bucket list" of activities starting with a trip to Pompeii in Southern Italy in September.

She said: "At the moment my quality of life is okay. I'm choosing to hold off from having more treatment because it's so gruelling.

"I take a lot of supplements, eat and live healthily and also receive complimentary medicine to maintain my quality of life.

"Each and every decision is life and death, if you make a decision and it's wrong then you die because of it.

"I've developed a very thick skin over the last few years.

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