My Mom had a tumble at Easter and as fell, she heard her jaw crack.
When she came home, it's been getting progressively more painful but really struggled to get anyone to listen to her when she said there's something wrong.
She went to the doctor who said it's just an infection. She then went several more times (6 total) but the doctor either moved the appointment or she was seen by a locum or nurse.
After my Dad died, she was supposed to be a "priority case" to check she's okay, but she just got fobbed off.
Still nobody at the doctor's would do an X-ray on her jaw, said her ears are just blocked and there's nothing wrong.
She went to the dentist who also said there's nothing wrong.
She changed dentist and they also said there's nothing wrong.
She went to the drop-in clinic who said there's nothing wrong.
She went to A&E when she was in agony who said there's nothing wrong.
She went to the 111 centre who said there's nothing wrong BUT agreed to do an X-ray.
The X-ray was supposed to go the dental unit at the hospital but she's heard nothing.
The pain was so great that she had to pay to go a private dentist to get someone to listen to her, who said she had to have some wisdom teeth out to stop the pain.
She had the teeth out, but it still hurt, so they looked again at the x-ray and said there's "a shadow".
Finally, they did some tests and she is then told that she's got a cancerous tumour growing on her jaw.
...
I went with her to see several of the cancer team at a nearby hospital (surgeon, case leader, nutritionist and speech therapist) and here's what's happening:
So, I'm a bit worried about her at the moment. The whole procedure is "routine" and the cancer hasn't spread, but it's still a big operation and still has its risks.
Really annoyed about the way she's been treated by everyone and just ignored despite repeatedly asking for an x-ray. At the doctor's, they ring a bell after 10 minutes to tell you your time is up and have to leave. However, I can't believe how many professionals didn't listen to her and she's had six months of increasing pain and potential for the cancer to spread.
The amount of chasing of receptionists she's had to do is ridiculous.
Once diagnosed, the cancer team at the hospital have been amazing - efficient but understanding.
This isn't an anti-NHS rant, it just illustrates how stretched they are.
It's going to be an interesting Christmas and 2020, that's for sure.
When she came home, it's been getting progressively more painful but really struggled to get anyone to listen to her when she said there's something wrong.
She went to the doctor who said it's just an infection. She then went several more times (6 total) but the doctor either moved the appointment or she was seen by a locum or nurse.
After my Dad died, she was supposed to be a "priority case" to check she's okay, but she just got fobbed off.
Still nobody at the doctor's would do an X-ray on her jaw, said her ears are just blocked and there's nothing wrong.
She went to the dentist who also said there's nothing wrong.
She changed dentist and they also said there's nothing wrong.
She went to the drop-in clinic who said there's nothing wrong.
She went to A&E when she was in agony who said there's nothing wrong.
She went to the 111 centre who said there's nothing wrong BUT agreed to do an X-ray.
The X-ray was supposed to go the dental unit at the hospital but she's heard nothing.
The pain was so great that she had to pay to go a private dentist to get someone to listen to her, who said she had to have some wisdom teeth out to stop the pain.
She had the teeth out, but it still hurt, so they looked again at the x-ray and said there's "a shadow".
Finally, they did some tests and she is then told that she's got a cancerous tumour growing on her jaw.
...
I went with her to see several of the cancer team at a nearby hospital (surgeon, case leader, nutritionist and speech therapist) and here's what's happening:
- She had an MRI scan to check that the cancer hasn't spread, either to her lungs, neck or brain - it hasn't. Phew.
- She had a CRT scan on her legs to check the bones are okay to be used as part of a new jaw.
- She's seeing the team again today to confirm that last scan's results. If OK, the rest will happen.
- She's having a PEG (feeding tube) put into her stomach on Friday as she won't be able to eat normally for a while.
- She's going in next Monday to hospital, ready for surgery on Tuesday.
- The cancer has eaten away most of her jaw where it's attached, which is why her jaw is brittle and keeps cracking and hurts so much as it grows. (You can see how swollen it is now)
- They're going to take out almost half of her jaw with the cancer attached.
- They're going to take out part of her leg bone with some attached bits (skin, nerves?) to build a new jaw with a plastic cast of her jaw and metal plates. The bone will help her body accept the jaw quicker.
- They're then going to put in the new jaw.
- They're also taking out her lymph nodes as they can be a source or cancer (precautionary).
(All of this should be about a 15 hour operation) - Then she's going to have radiotherapy on the jaw for a few months (6 weeks?) (precautionary)
(Chemotherapy is for the whole body, radiotherapy is focused.) - She'll need a walking stick for a while, but should be okay.
- She'll be pretty weak from the radiotherapy.
- She'll see the speech therapist to help train her how to speak/eat again with the new jaw.
So, I'm a bit worried about her at the moment. The whole procedure is "routine" and the cancer hasn't spread, but it's still a big operation and still has its risks.
Really annoyed about the way she's been treated by everyone and just ignored despite repeatedly asking for an x-ray. At the doctor's, they ring a bell after 10 minutes to tell you your time is up and have to leave. However, I can't believe how many professionals didn't listen to her and she's had six months of increasing pain and potential for the cancer to spread.
The amount of chasing of receptionists she's had to do is ridiculous.
Once diagnosed, the cancer team at the hospital have been amazing - efficient but understanding.
This isn't an anti-NHS rant, it just illustrates how stretched they are.
It's going to be an interesting Christmas and 2020, that's for sure.
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