Care and treatment (during diagnosis - lung cancer and lymph

Hi guys, 

Looking for a bit of advise and an honest opinion. Please or offend. 

 

My mum was admitted to hopsital with low sodium which turned out to be lung cancer. 

 

Previous to this she has had lymphodema (unrelated to cancer?) for 3 years with a leg ulcer - community care plan in situ regarding compression dressings. After many years, the district professionals were able to get the swelling down and the ulcer considerably smaller. During her diagnosis stay at hopsital, the ward did not follow this care plan (untrained) and as a result, my mums legs have swollen exponentially to the point that fluid is leaking from her legs, her skin has completely broken down and her ulcer is majorly infected and green.. As a result, she is unable to have chemo (at her current state). I really feel that if they followed the care plan, the legs would have remained stable and she would have been able to have chemo.. In essence, I feel the hopsital have hammered the final nail in my mums coffin. Does this sound like a case of negligence? Or can cancer cause all of this?.. It's just striking to me that her legs have been perfect for the past couple of months. Until she stayed in hopsital... Also we've yet to have her staging as the cancer clinic is overbooked, it's been 3 weeks of hell and I'm pretty upset!!  

  • Hi Jcdvgn,

    I'm sorry to read this about your mum - it sounds like an incredibly upsetting time and I can certainly understand your feelings.

    I can't really advise on your questions - this forum is probably not the best place to get advice on this, especially as no one here really knows about your mum's care.

    It may be good for you to discuss with your mum's doctor or medical team about the second question (perhaps also with those who were involved in the community care plan) - i.e. what cancer can have caused.

    Try to do what you can to support your mum, and seek further answers if you feel it would be helpful.

    Wishing you all the best,

    Ben
    Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Now all is done and she has been dead for 6 weeks. The days following my post made it pretty obvious mum was put into an early grave!