Peter Cura says he is angry his cancer was left undiagnosed

Peter Cura says he visited Medway Maritime Hospital 37 times in 18 months but doctors insisted his excruciating back pain was caused by kidney stones.

"I mainly feel anger with the doctor I was seeing at the time," he said.

Medway NHS Trust said: "The trust would wish to extend its sympathy to Mr Cura and his family for the delay."

I asked the doctor on two occasions if it was cancer and he said no Peter Cura

A spokesman added: "Measures have been put in place to address the issues raised in this claim in the hope of preventing similar such cases."

Mr Cura first attended the hospital in April 2002 and had scans in June and October that year.

He was not diagnosed with cancer until July 2003.

Doctors found a 3in tumour after six operations and the removal of his left kidney.

Mr Cura's cancer is now so advanced that he may only have weeks to live.

"I try not to think about it too much but I am angry about the way the doctor was so blase about it," he said.

"I asked him on two different occasions if it was cancer and he said no."

The trust denies that the late diagnosis caused Mr Cura's cancer to spread and says that his condition would be the same if it had been spotted at the earliest opportunity.

His legal team disputes that and complains that it took the hospital more than a year to admit its mistake.

"The problem is not just making the mistakes but refusing to admit to them," said solicitor Sarah Harman.