Nesta

“I returned from holiday in Spain in 2018 having had a vaginal bleed , been seen by a doctors in hospital in Donostia and recommended to have a biopsy taken. I was referred by my GP and waited 6 weeks for an appointment. I saw a practitioner nurse , not a doctor. She failed to take the biopsy and I was out back on the waiting list. I was very distressed , went to see my GP , he wrote a letter for me to take to my next appointment, requesting I saw a doctor. 

“Finally the appointment came and the same practice nurse , I was told if I wasn’t happy with her taking the biopsy I would return to the waiting list to see a doctor. I was worried and distressed , I agreed to her taking the biopsy. I was told the results would take a couple of weeks . Surprisingly, I received a letter telling I was clear , no cancer cells present in the next few days. I accepted this as being correct.  

“Approximately a year later I suffered heavy bleeding again, went to my GP and the waiting procedure again. This time I was finally seen by the original consultant for a biopsy. She told me immediately, before the biopsy results, she was probably looking at cancer. This proved to be true, originally  identified as stage 2 endometrial cancer. 

“I was referred to oncology. At the first meeting with the oncologist I asked why this cancer had not been identified previously. She told me that the biopsy taken  by the practice nurse was insufficient, and therefore , no biopsy evidence of the previous year existed BUT I had been cleared . Not told the biopsy had failed , a third attempt not taken , nor was I given the opportunity to look into the private sector for it to be completed.  

“I subsequently had the agonising wait from this point until September 2019 for my hysterectomy. This surgery was cancelled once due to no anaesthetist being available . I was distraught. Contact was sparse and I felt abandoned. Late September the surgery took place. I was sent home with a box of anticoagulant injections to administer myself. I was given 25 sessions of radiotherapy ending just prior to the outbreak of COVID.  

“Hospital checks were not recommended due to the virus. I did attend later in the year, feeling very tired, with a prolapse, and bowel problems since the radiotherapy. was advised to do Hegel exercises , tiredness normal . Finally had a scan regarding bowel problems, which was clear but showed 2 blood clots on lungs. Was given blood thinners in emergency clinic. Never saw a consultant, no testing done. Finally,  managed to contact pharmacy at the hospital ( dealing with blood clots ) to discover my medication ( which made me very poorly) was meant to be taken for 3 months then lowered. After discussion with the pharmacist I came off blood thinners. An X-ray taken in casualty had shown blood clots dissolved. 2021 managed to see gynaecologist at Singleton re prolapse. Bowel and bladder surgical lift made.  

“At this point suffering severe back pain. Diagnosed with severe osteoporosis, now on infusions yearly, as gut couldn’t tolerate tablets.

“Several years of battling to be seen , extreme stress . An official complaint made regarding my failed biopsy , that possibly missed my cancer was treated very dismissively. It appears the department had changed their protocol regarding informing patients about failed biopsies and no longer relied on the evidence that had generated the letter telling me I was clear -when I clearly  was either pre-cancerous or had cancer cells.”

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