A Maidstone mum spent three weeks thinking she was going to die after being diagnosed with a brain tumour – only to be told there was nothing wrong with her.

Evelina Powell, 32, claims she was told cancer had eaten away a 50p-size hole in her skull by Maidstone hospital staff.

Her ordeal began when she was rushed to A&E after collapsing in the canteen at fashion warehouse All Saints in Aylesford, where she works.

Within hours, she had been given a CT scan and blood test and told she had had a mini-stroke.

The doctor also delivered the devastating news there was a worrying hole in her skull.

But a series of tests revealed Mrs Powell did not have a brain tumour.

The dark patch that showed up on an MRI scan, which doctors first believed to be cancer, turned out to be a mark where she had bumped her head as a child.

The mother-of-one, of Arundel Square, who is in remission after developing stage three ovarian cancer in 2005, said her life fell apart when she thought the disease had spread.

She said: "The first time I had cancer I was on my own, but this time all I could keep thinking about was my two-year-old daughter Sophie.

"She was my miracle baby because I was told I would not be able to have children.

"My world just crashed to pieces when I thought I might not be able to see her growing up.

"I would start crying when I saw something that reminded me about the holiday to Disney World we had never booked for her birthday, or the shopping trips we may never go on when she was older.

"I cried when I saw a sign which said 2014 on it, thinking I might not be around then."

Husband Danny, a 36-year-old TV aerial engineer, said: "The doctor was so blasé about it. I said it could be anything, but he said 'no, you have got cancer'.

"It has driven my wife insane. One night she was crying in bed and just said 'am I going to die?'. How can I answer that?"

After being passed on to the TIA clinic at Pembury, which ruled out a stroke, Mrs Powell was given an MRI scan which detected a possible tumour.

It was only after being referred to her gynaecologist, and on to Charing Cross Hospital in London that she was given the all clear - just as her family were about to fly over from Poland to visit her.

The only explanation the doctor could give for the confusion was a lesion on Evelina's head from an accident when she was a newborn.

"The doctor was so blasé about it. I said it could be anything, but he said 'no, you have got cancer'..." - Evelina's husband Danny Powell

The family have since complained to the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS trust about the misdiagnosis and lack of information they were given on the condition, which left them relying on the internet.

Mrs Powell said: "I spent three weeks thinking I was going to die. When I was told there was nothing there it was just a shock. It only hit me the next day.

"Even now I know I'm going to be alright I'm scared to go back to my doctor.

"I wasn't angry with them because the NHS saved my life when I had ovarian cancer. I was disappointed more than anything. I feel like they were playing God.

"I'm still trying to put the pieces of my life back together."

A Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust spokesman said: "We are sorry to hear that Mr and Mrs Powell were unhappy with their experience in Maidstone Hospital's A&E in September.

"We are always willing to look into concerns raised by our patients to establish the facts and, if necessary, respond accordingly and take appropriate action.

"In this case, and at this time, we have received no formal complaint."

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