A MUM who lost both her daughter and husband to cancer has paid tribute to her second daughter who died suddenly.

Tracey Spear was just 44 when she died on January 18 - she had ovarian cancer and a perforated bowel, which had caused sepsis.

It was a total shock for her family, as although she had been experiencing pain for about a year, she had never been officially diagnosed.

On January 11 Tracey, from Clacton, went to Colchester Hospital in extreme pain, and died a week later from the bowel infection.

Her mum Sue lost her husband Terry, 73, unexpectedly to cancer exactly six months before Tracey died.

She has also lost her eldest daughter Cerri, who was 44, to cancer.

Sue, also from Clacton, said: "It was completely unexpected, she hadn't been feeling well for about a year.

"She kept getting strange pains and bloating, she just felt dreadful.

"She had been going to the doctors as she was quite concerned because of her family history, but they told her she was too young to be worrying about that."

Clacton and Frinton Gazette:

Tracey, who worked at the Institute for Youth Work Council, had visited her mum after work on January 11.

Sue said: "She always came to my house after work. There was not a day I didn't see her.

"She said she felt really ill and had a hot bath as she was in pain."

That evening Tracey's partner of three years, Simon Muir, took her to Colchester Hospital where she had a series of tests.

It turned out she had ovarian cancer which had spread to other places, as well as sepsis.

Sue said it was devastating.

She said: "She was working all the time and she was so passionate about young people.

"They started giving her medication in hospital but she never really regained consciousness.

"The hospital also said she had a perforated bowel, all these things are apparently symptoms of ovarian cancer, including the bloating and the pain.

"No one seemed to be taking it seriously, they just thought she had irritable bowel."

Tracey's family wants to warn others not to ignore pain.

Sue's husband Terry's cancer was also unexpected - he had been experiencing dizziness which was actually lung cancer that had spread to his brain.

Sue said: "Don't be fobbed off, it you have got these symptoms do not let people say you are too young.

"It's just awful. Tracey's son George was 15 and his dad died when he was five.

"Now he has lost his mum, it's unbelievable."

Clacton and Frinton Gazette:

Tracey also had a daughter, Teri, 26, and grandson Bertie, six, who she was very close to.

Sue said: "All of her work friends are devastated, it's just awful.

"She was so vibrant and passionate about her work. I have lost my daughter and my best friend."

Tracey's colleagues at the Institute for Youth Work paid tribute to her.

They said: "She joined towards the end of 2016 with a clear mission to fight for youth work at a national and strategic level.

"In the time since, she became known as someone with a tenacious and formidable nature and someone who could be held up as an exemplar in the art of youth work.

"Tracey was known by many to be wonderfully direct and would challenge people to do their best and hold to account those in power who could be doing more.

"Nothing will ever fully plug the gap that is Tracey’s vibrant love for her work and the people around her."

Tracey's funeral will be held on March 4, from 12.30pm at Weeley Crematorium.

A wake will be held at the snooker club in Valley Road, Clacton, and all are welcome.

The family has set up a fundraising page, visit www.gofundme.com/final-goodbyes-for-tracey-spear.