Hi
I'm writing as my mum just a week ago was diagnosed with wide spread lung cancer and I want advice on on the missed diagnosis and guidance on if we should push for more
The sordid tale begins in 2023 when she began losing weight due to a loss of appetite , she was also having repeat cheat infections
She was referred down the 2 week pathway and had a CT scan they diagnosed a small nodule under of 4mm but ruled it likely benign at MDT meeting and discharged her but did decide to do a repeat scan in 6 months
It was very conflicting, as my dad who also had lung cancer when he had a small nodule they took it out and saved his life but they assured us they didn't believe her nodule was maglinant
She continued losing weight however a few months after this scan we lost my dad unexpectedly and we assumed it was partly grief
Her next scan was cancelled and by the time they re arranged another it had been almost a year
At the next scan she never seen anyone with the results
They wrote her a letter saying nodule at grew but still too small to biopsy and again said didn't think maglinant
We asked GP about this and he said it was being followed up appropriately
Unsure If I will ever forgive myself for not pushing back on this
The following month she was rushed to hospital with a chest infection and suspected blood clot , she had another CT scan and was told nothing new noted and no clot
She was given antibiotics and steroids
We now know this scan showed a hilar mass but no one told us
Fast forward to Feb 2025 she had another scan and received a letter four weeks later saying the hilar mass was again noted and now showing interval growth but they would re scan in 6 months
This is so contradictory to guidelines unfortunately she didn't share the letter with me unfortunately she asked her GP who said it consultant had 6 months that would be the action
Meanwhile the weight loss was worse and they where doing other random tests meanwhile a great big mass had been noted and was being ignored
Hilar masses are a red flag for maglinancy so I have no idea what they where playing at
By April she was getting Tremors and shaking , her doctor said maybe parkinsons
In June she fell and injured herself we requested a brain scan but where told this can happen with age she is 70 previously fit
The next week a more serious fall leading to hospital admission where a scan revealed multiple tumours in her brain , the biggest 5cm
She was told by a doctor saying sorry you've got tumours in your brain in a ward full of other people without asking who she wanted with her
The next day a junior doctor came to speak to us and said it appears the cancer from February has now spread rapidly
I stared what cancer from February and then came the sordid revelation that the scan from November 2024 was highly suggestive of malignancy but of course they have no answers to why they ignored it. We have to ask for investigation if we want answers
We where also told before the consultant even met her she was too frail for treatment and would be dead within weeks
They only agreed to biopsy as we submitted a complaint
Only weeks ago she was still doing childcare for grand children and great grandchildren
Now she is weak on her feet but she is still talking eating she has no pain and no respiratory symptoms
I guess I'm looking for anyone else who's had such a awful experience of failed care and anyone else in such a position that's tried someone form of treatment
The cancer is in lungs brain lymph nodes and adrenal glands
Symptoms are unsteadiness on feet and some shaking
No pain
Still talking eating alert says if she could improve her balance would feel normal
Has had sporadic back pain but they said no point in looking for home mets
Wanted her on lose dose steroids only but have increased now after complaint
She has stared she would try anything for more time and crys alot at the fear of leaving us all
I am heartbroken and can't believe how she has been let down
