A mum, once described as the “bubbliest person you will ever meet,” has tragically lost her battle against cancer after initially being misdiagnosed with sinusitis and ultimately undergoing the removal of her nose.
Katie Froggatt, from Southport, first experienced severe nose pain in June 2021. Initially, doctors diagnosed her with sinusitis and prescribed antibiotics. Despite months of treatment, her pain persisted. Upon returning to the doctor, further examination revealed what appeared to be polyps in her nose, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Katie’s best friend, Nicola Patterson, recounted to the ECHO last year: “At the start of June 2021, she was complaining of what she thought was sinusitis. She was put on antibiotics, but it turned out to be sinus cancer. From June to December, she was treated with antibiotics and thought she had polyps. In January last year, she was diagnosed with sinus cancer, an aggressive form, and underwent surgery to have part of her nose removed.”
Nicola continued, “She was going to get her nose reconstructed, but in September last year, the cancer came back. Then in December, she had to have her nose removed. The cancer has now spread to her lungs. It’s awful. She needs a prosthetic nose, and she’s trying another round of radiotherapy on her lungs.”
Katie, a 40-year-old mum-of-one and former hairdresser, was unable to work while receiving treatment. Despite more than a year of fundraising efforts to get her to America for specialized care, Katie sadly passed away on Friday, 28 June, surrounded by her husband Ste, daughter Myla, and close friends.
Nicola, who had been friends with Katie for 25 years, posted a heartfelt tribute on social media. She wrote, “If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever. My heart’s broken; I already want you back. You fought so hard to the end, sleep tight bez. Life will never be the same. Thank you for loving me as much as I loved you. True soul sisters, our memories will live with me forever and get me through the hard days.
Keep thinking of your unforgettable laugh. Till we meet again. I promise we will look after Ste and Myla, and we will help them through and all the family too. Sleep tight.” Katie’s story highlights the devastating impact of misdiagnosis and the relentless nature of aggressive cancer. Her battle and the love of those around her will not be forgotten.