Vicky Mcloughlin, 66, was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer in November 2024, but has been denied potentially life-saving surgery twice. Her family says her quality of life is already drastically impacted, with hospital visits needed every fortnight.
Diagnosis and initial symptoms
The diagnosis came after her daughter Chloe, 33, noticed Vicky "wasn't herself" and later discovered her mum had been struggling to use the toilet for a fortnight, Birmingham Live reports. After experiencing bleeding, Vicky underwent an endoscopy that initially failed to detect anything untoward. Chloe took her mother to A&E, where a scan revealed a mass in her cervical area.
A biopsy confirmed cancer, with doctors establishing the tumour had formed in her bowels before spreading to her cervical area. But infections and a build-up of fluid, caused when the spreading tumour created a tear in both her bowel and cervical area, meant she was deemed unsuitable for surgery. Vicky was instead given two rounds of chemotherapy.
Two hospitals refuse surgery
Chloe appealed to medical teams at Solihull Hospital and St Mark's Hospital in London to perform surgery and remove the tumour, but both refused on the grounds of excessive risk, fears Vicky could lose a leg and a likely deterioration in her quality of life. In correspondence sent to Vicky, doctors said they had "significant concerns" about how she would cope with the surgery, saying it would not be "in her best interests".
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."
Ongoing health complications
Vicky's tumour has so far remained confined to the bladder, bowel and cervical region and has not spread elsewhere. But the infections she contracts can trigger sepsis. Chloe said: "When the tumour broke through it caused a hole in the bowels and cervical area. So infections were caused. She had multiple drains to drain out the fluid collection. She's had four in the last two years."
"She had to have surgery for a stoma bag too. But the collection of fluid with the last drain didn't drain out as it was too thick. They eventually managed to remove it as it was putting pressure on her kidneys. The urine was going back towards her kidneys, so she had surgery for two tubes to go into her back through her kidneys and they drain out her urine. So now she doesn't go to the toilet at all. She was in such a strong position but now I don't know how she's alive today. She has sepsis all the time."
Vicky has had sepsis five times in the last two years. Her condition means that 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.
