Porth woman's cancer death linked to nine-month test delay

A mother of three died from cancer after a nine-month delay in receiving pathology test results, meaning she missed potentially life-extending treatment, an inquest heard. Sarah Catherine Daniels, 43, died at home in Porth, Rhondda Cynon Taf, in April 2025. The coroner ruled the delay was "unacceptable" and reduced her chance of successful chemotherapy. The pathology department was "completely overwhelmed by demand" following the Covid-19 pandemic, with a backlog of routine appointments. Sarah had surgery in February 2022 to remove an ovarian mass, but results took nine months. Sarah sought private treatment at the Christie cancer centre in Manchester and received chemotherapy at Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff. She got the all clear but cancer returned, and she became too frail for further treatment by March 2025. The coroner noted the health board has since established a better framework.