A 66-year-old woman diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer has been refused surgery twice, despite her daughter saying the operation is the only way to cure her.
Vicky Mcloughlin was given the diagnosis in November 2024 after her daughter, Chloe, 33, noticed she “wasn't herself”. The mother had experienced bleeding and underwent an endoscopy that initially found nothing, but a scan at A&E later revealed a mass in her cervical area. A biopsy confirmed cancer, with doctors establishing the tumour had formed in her bowels before spreading.
Two hospitals refuse surgery
Chloe says her mother has been denied surgery by medical teams at Solihull Hospital and St Mark's Hospital in London. Both refused on the grounds of excessive risk, including fears Vicky could lose a leg and a likely deterioration in her quality of life. In correspondence, doctors said they had “significant concerns” about how she would cope and that surgery would not be “in her best interests”.
Vicky was instead given two rounds of chemotherapy. Infections and a build-up of fluid, caused when the spreading tumour created a tear in her bowel and cervical area, meant she was deemed unsuitable for surgery.
Family argues quality of life already poor
Chloe, who owns a dog walking business in Tamworth, said: “It was a lot to process when she was diagnosed. We never would have thought where we are now and be in the situation we are now. The only way to cure her is through surgery. A hospital in London, and one in Solihull both refused. They said it was too major and she could lose her leg and they said with her age they don't know if she'd survive the surgery. They said she'd have a better quality of life without the surgery - but to me that's not the case.”
She added: “It's constant - every other week she's back in hospital. It does nothing - it's just torture. It's a living nightmare. I don't know what else to do.”
Complications and repeated infections
Vicky's tumour has remained confined to the bladder, bowel and cervical region and has not spread elsewhere, but infections she contracts can trigger sepsis. Chloe said the tumour caused a hole in the bowels and cervical area, leading to infections. Vicky has had multiple drains to remove fluid, four in the last two years, and surgery for a stoma bag. One drain failed because the fluid was too thick, and it was eventually removed as it was putting pressure on her kidneys. She then had surgery for two tubes to drain urine from her kidneys.
Vicky has had sepsis five times in the last two years. Her condition means she cannot have any more treatment.
A spokesperson for University Hospitals Birmingham, which runs Solihull Hospital, said: “We have great sympathy for Mrs Mcloughlin and her family at what is clearly a difficult and distressing time. Decisions about radical cancer surgery are very complex and are never taken lightly. Any advice given is based on a careful assessment of the potential benefits and risks, and are coordinated by a multi-disciplinary team, with the clinical team's overriding priority being what is safest, and in the patient's best interests.”
London North West University Healthcare Trust said it could not comment on individual patients' circumstances.
