Mother of three died after nine-month wait for cancer test results

A mother of three died from cancer after a nine-month delay in receiving pathology test results, which an inquest heard prevented her from receiving potentially life-extending treatment in time. Sarah Catherine Daniels, 43, died at home in Porth, Rhondda Cynon Taf, in April 2025. The coroner found the pathology department was "completely overwhelmed by demand" following the Covid-19 pandemic, calling the delay "unacceptable" and saying it reduced the chance of successful chemotherapy. Daniels had opted for a less invasive procedure to remove an ovarian mass in February 2022, with samples sent for testing that did not return for nine months. Her husband said she "never gave up" fighting her rare and aggressive cancer, seeking private treatment and undergoing chemotherapy, but her health declined by January 2025. The coroner recorded a narrative conclusion, apologising to the family and noting the delay likely impacted her quality and length of life.