A woman has been denied surgery after being diagnosed with bowel cancer, which she discovered following a two-week struggle to use the restroom.
Vicky Mcloughlin, aged 66, received her stage three bowel cancer diagnosis in November 2024.
Her daughter, Chloe, 33, noticed a change in Vicky and later learned about her significant toilet troubles.
After experiencing bleeding, Vicky underwent an endoscopy that didn’t detect any issues initially.
Eventually, Chloe took her mother to the emergency room, where scans revealed a mass in her cervical region.
A biopsy confirmed the diagnosis, with doctors indicating that the tumor had originated in her bowels before spreading to her cervical area.
This progression resulted in a hole forming in both her bowel and cervical area, necessitating a stoma bag and a tube for kidney drainage.
These complications led to frequent infections and fluid accumulation that required regular draining procedures.
Due to persistent infections, Vicky was unable to undergo chemotherapy and instead received two rounds of radiotherapy.
Chloe has implored doctors at Solihull Hospital and St Mark’s Hospital in London to perform surgery to remove the tumor, but both facilities have cited the surgery’s high risks, including the potential loss of her leg and a decline in her quality of life.
In a letter to Vicky, doctors expressed “significant concerns” regarding her ability to endure the surgery.
The letter stated that her overall fitness, paired with the extent of her disease, would not make a major pelvic resection advisable.
However, Vicky’s family disagrees with this assessment, arguing that her current quality of life is severely impacted as she must visit the hospital every two weeks.
Chloe, who has a dog walking business in Tamworth, described the diagnosis as overwhelming.
“We never imagined we’d end up in this situation. The only cure is surgery,” she insisted, emphasizing the refusal from two hospitals.
“It’s constant – she’s in the hospital every other week. It feels like torture.”
Chloe mentioned that an earlier hysteroscopy failed to identify the tumor because of its size, as it appeared to be part of her anatomy.
Fortunately, the tumor has remained confined to the bladder, bowel, and cervical region without spreading elsewhere so far. Still, the infections pose a risk of leading to sepsis.
“When the tumor broke through, it created a hole, resulting in infections,” Chloe explained.
“She has dealt with multiple drains to manage fluid collection, requiring surgery for a stoma bag as well.”
Chloe revealed that one of the drains had not worked due to the thickness of the fluid, resulting in surgery for two tubes to facilitate kidney drainage.
“Now she doesn’t use the toilet at all. She was in a strong position, but I honestly don’t know how she’s still alive,” Chloe lamented.
“She suffers from sepsis frequently.”
In fact, Vicky has experienced sepsis five times within the last two years.
Due to her current state, further treatment options for Vicky are no longer available.
A spokesperson for University Hospitals Birmingham expressed their sympathy for Vicky and her family during this challenging time, noting the complexity involved in making decisions about radical cancer surgery, which are based on thorough risks and benefits assessments.
A spokesperson from the London North West University Healthcare Trust added that they cannot comment on the specifics of any individual patient’s situation.
