Gillian Ann Gallagher, 65, died at the Countess of Chester Hospital on December 5 after months of declining health.

Cheshire coroner Nicholas Rheinberg heard that Mrs Gallagher, of Trefoil Close, Huntington, had suffered with many chest infections over the years as a result of heavy smoking and was diagnosed with high blood pressure in January, 2007.

In a statement her GP, Dr Anthony Kenmoore-Blanche, recalled Mrs Gallagher feeling generally unwell in October but he could not describe any specific symptoms.

In November he visited Mrs Gallagher at home and noted she had lost a considerable amount of weight. She was admitted to hospital as an emergency.

He reported fears of bowel or ovary problems and said Mrs Gallagher was worried about visiting the doctor and being admitted to hospital.

Mrs Gallagher's husband, Patrick, told the hearing: "She had a terrible fear of anything medical, whether it be the hospital, opticians or the dentists, even taking tablets for a normal cold."

Mr Gallagher said he and his wife decided to stop smoking in January, 2007 and told the GP who took blood tests and checked their blood pressures. Mrs Gallagher was found to have a high blood sugar level and high blood pressure and was prescribed blood pressure tablets. A blood sugar retest reported a normal level.

"The problems started when she started taking blood pressure tablets," said Mr Gallagher.

"She had swelling of the ankles and under the eye. The tablets just seemed to give her a problem and she lost her confidence."

Mr Rheinberg heard Mrs Gallagher also developed stomach problems.

Mr Gallagher added: "Two weeks before she was admitted to hospital, her hands and feet were getting really hot and then all of a sudden the skin started to peel off. It got worse and it was treated in hospital as well."

Professor Terence David Wardle, a consultant physician at the Countess of Chester Hospital, said numerous tests were carried out but they failed to find the cause of the symptoms.

"Everyone thought it's got to be a cancer of some sort," he said.

Both Prof Wardle and Dr Jacqueline Elder, a pathologist at the hospital, agreed Mrs Gallagher's illness could have been a malignancy, the development of cancerous cells, but nothing could be found.

Mr Rheinberg asked if Mrs Gallagher's medication could have been the source of the symptoms. Prof Wardle said: "There was no evidence that one drug would fulfil all the bits and pieces of the symptoms."

Mr Rheinberg said: "It may be, and probably is, that it was coincidental to the start of the medication in January, 2007 that Mrs Gallagher became generally unwell, but with nothing she could put her finger on.