Woman with brain tumour sues Qld Health

A woman with a malignant brain tumour is taking legal action against Queensland Health for medical negligence.

The 49-year-old woman, who only wants to be known by her given name Robyn, has filed an initial notice of claim against Queensland Health.

Lawyer Olamide Kowalik, from Trilby Misso, said Robyn was undergoing chemotherapy to treat a life-threatening tumour that should have been discovered and removed years ago.

"No one who checked her over a three-year period discovered that the tumour had returned," Ms Kowalik said.

"She started feeling like a hypochondriac because she was regularly advised that there was nothing wrong."

Robyn said on one occasion a doctor who dismissed her concerns told her to go home and learn to walk a dog.

She survived a brain tumour in 1995 but in the past three years started having headaches and paralysis to her left side.

Robyn said she suffered a seizure in April 2008, and was taken to the Royal Brisbane Hospital for a CT scan.

"The neurologist told me I had suffered a migraine-type stroke and that there was nothing to be concerned about," she said.

But in April this year, and only a month after seeing a doctor, she again broke down with left-side paralysis and was flown to the hospital for further tests which finally detected the brain tumour as well as bleeding on the brain and a cyst.

"The neurologist told me the tumour had been there for years and should have been detected earlier," she said.

"I have had the brain tumour for two years yet I'd been told 'No you're fine, go home, go learn how to walk a dog, get on the pension, everything is OK' ... but it wasn't."

Ms Kowalik said Robyn's illness contributed to her marriage breakdown, she can't work or drive a car and faced enormous physical, emotional and financial difficulties.

Queensland Health has been sought for comment.