A distraught family has called for cancer patients to be given routine heart scans during chemotherapy treatment following the tragic death of a mother-of-two.

Artist Rachel Dominy underwent chemotherapy after having a cancerous tumour removed.

But when she was about to start her final round of treatment, the previously-fit 42-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest in a hospital car park.

She was put on a life support machine but died a week later, leaving behind her husband of 10 years Andrew, a delivery driver, and daughters Ruby, 9, and Elsa, 6.

At an inquest into her death a coroner ruled that Mrs Dominy's cardiac arrest was probably triggered by an adverse reaction to chemotherapy drug Capecitabine.

Her family believes had she been given a 10 minute ECG (electrocardiogram) heart scan mid-way through her treatment, the strain the treatment was putting on her heart could have been spotted and she may still be alive.

Her mother Christine Clements said after the inquest in Bournemouth, Dorset,: "The verdict the coroner gave was as we hoped. Capecitabine, Rachel's chemotherapy, caused her collapse.

"If Rachel had received an ECG as part of her regular testing regime, it may have picked up early that her heart was being adversely affected and it could possibly have been corrected.

"I hope the NHS take all the events on board, after all an ECG takes only 10 minutes and you get a result in a few days.

"Ten minutes to possibly save a life and possibly prevent another family losing a dearly loved one.

"Patients should also be told of the exact risk statistics associated with the proposed chemotherapy regime.

"Rachel is very sadly missed by so many, and her two Elsa and Ruby have lost a dear mother.

"She can never be replaced."

The inquest heard Mrs Dominy, from Dorchester, was diagnosed with stage three colorectal cancer in January 2019 and had a tumour removed.

After discussions with an oncologist, she decided to undergo chemotherapy to reduce the chances of the cancer coming back.

Consultant medical oncologist Dr Amelie Harle, of Poole Hospital, said Mrs Dominy was given an ECG prior to surgery which showed her heart was 'completely normal'.

When asked why she had not been scanned half way through her treatment, she said: "An ECG can reveal some cardiac deficiencies but perhaps not all the problems that might occur.

"She was given an ECG (ahead of her treatment) and there was no evidence that there was a pre-existing problem."

She said making heart scans mandatory part way through chemotherapy treatment could lead to crucial 'delays' for the patient.

Dorset Assistant Coroner Brendan Allen recorded a verdict that Mrs Dominy had suffered a hypoxic brain injury caused by a cardiac arrest 'as a consequence of a recognised complication of chemotherapy'.

He said: "It is so sad for a 42 year old mother to lose her life and her loss will be keenly felt by many people."

A spokesperson for Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: "We extend our deepest condolences to Mrs Dominy's family.

"We have taken on board the family's concerns regarding routine ECGs during cancer treatment and can offer the assurance that ECGs are routinely undertaken where clinically indicated in line with national guidance."