Advice please. The care home, an expensive American chain, noted a breast lump in my mother's breast in 2011, she is now 90 years old and in mid to late stage of dementia. My brother and I were not informed. the home said they informed the doctor, he has no record. I was notified that her breast had a sore about 3 weeks ago, this it seems was the lump ulcerating. I took her to the hospital on Monday for a core biopsy, she was completely traumatised by the whole experience and thankfully has now forgotten about it. We are waiting to see whether the type of breast cancer will necessitate a mastectomy or be treatable by oral drugs. her breast is so badly distorted I cannot understand why the carers didn't raise the alarm sooner. she has had a lump for 3 years with no action taken. I know I am not writing this very well nor putting across how upset we, the family are about this turn of events. has anyone any suggestions as to how we can redress the situation with the home if only they are pulled up for neglect and sun=b standard care so that this or something similar doesn't happen again with someone else. I have probably put this in the wrong section.
My 90 year old mother, in a home, has just been diagnosed with Breast Cancer
- Thread starter suszyq
- Start date
I agree that at your mother's age it would be very hard to see her going through any possible treatments.
However I do feel that as soon as the lump had been noted and put on record, then you should have been informed. Can you obtain her notes and find out when this lump was first recorded? You may have to pay a fee for any copies you need of notes.
I can quite understand your disappointment that you as a family have only now, at this very late stage been informed.
Best wishes
TinaT
However I do feel that as soon as the lump had been noted and put on record, then you should have been informed. Can you obtain her notes and find out when this lump was first recorded? You may have to pay a fee for any copies you need of notes.
I can quite understand your disappointment that you as a family have only now, at this very late stage been informed.
Best wishes
TinaT
at 90, I wouldn't put my mother through surgery.
Where was this lump noted in 2011? Do you not get together with the staff on a regular basis and discuss what is going on? My guess is that they thought you knew/had been told.
Are you normally and quite reliably told things? What would I do now? I really don't know.
Where was this lump noted in 2011? Do you not get together with the staff on a regular basis and discuss what is going on? My guess is that they thought you knew/had been told.
Are you normally and quite reliably told things? What would I do now? I really don't know.
I think one of the worrying things is that your mother may have been suffering from discomfort with this lump and unable to express it. With that in mind I would certainly follow things up with regard to substandard care and neglect.
It is also not up to the care home, surely, to decide whether your mother should have treatment, it is up to whoever has responsibility for her health and welfare decisions, presumably you?
I don't think one should assume that just because you are old and have dementia you would not benefit from treatment - there should at least be a discussion about it and a consultation with a specialist. THEN the decision can be made.
It is also not up to the care home, surely, to decide whether your mother should have treatment, it is up to whoever has responsibility for her health and welfare decisions, presumably you?
I don't think one should assume that just because you are old and have dementia you would not benefit from treatment - there should at least be a discussion about it and a consultation with a specialist. THEN the decision can be made.
Thank you for your thoughts. The doctor has already said she will have a mastectomy if the results indicate it is needed. I do not have the right poa as the solicitor who did the financial poa said i would never need the other and as next of kin I would always be consulted. I have to push the home for everything, for example the dentist, they do inform me of stuff but unfortunately not this lump they cannot find the notes where it was first spotted. I live nearer to the home than my brother so I do the visiting. My brother is very angry, I am more concerned for my mother, I had breast cancer 18 months ago so this is not a good journey for me either. My brother is determined to 'have a go' at the home. I just thought someone on here might know how to go about it in a relatively civilised matter.
yes, I agree that the concern is how your mother is.
I would ask the home for details of their complaints procedure and follow it properly. If you have an advocacy service somewhere or want to get a solicitor involved (and have the funds to do so) then consider that. But complaints procedure first, and write down every conversation you have had with dates and times and names, for your own records, it's amazing how you forget stuff like that which you may later need.
I imagine the care home will keep you well informed from now on. The complaint will probably serve to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else.
I would ask the home for details of their complaints procedure and follow it properly. If you have an advocacy service somewhere or want to get a solicitor involved (and have the funds to do so) then consider that. But complaints procedure first, and write down every conversation you have had with dates and times and names, for your own records, it's amazing how you forget stuff like that which you may later need.
I imagine the care home will keep you well informed from now on. The complaint will probably serve to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else.
Thanks. That is what I am after, for it not to happen to anyone else. Unfortunately the home, seems to have issues on the medical side, we have experienced this as have other residents families. As to the op I have been told that unless she has the op, depending on the type of breast cancer, the lumps (there are two very large ones) will increase in size and continue to ulcerate and cause her a great deal of discomfort, devil and the deep blue sea it seems. I am fervently hoping, and the statistics are in her favour, that the cancer is of the type that will respond to drugs.
To me it is appalling and quite unacceptable that they did not inform you before. My mother's CH ring to tell me of every little bump and bruise - today they phoned about a 'small skin tear' on her arm.
I would lodge a strong complaint to senior management and copy it to the CQC.
My Mum who is in later stages of Alzheimer's had a mastectomy last year. The hospital and consultant were brilliant and let me stay with her throughout. She has recovered really well and has now forgotton about the whole thing she has a prosthesis and although she comments on her lost boob everyday is fine once she is dresses as she looks normal. We had lots of support from the Macmillan Team and district nurses.
I would definitely report the home to CQC they have failed in their duty of care and failed to take appropriate action. They also failed to report, document, and inform you.
You can download CQC standards on their website .
Good luck
I would definitely report the home to CQC they have failed in their duty of care and failed to take appropriate action. They also failed to report, document, and inform you.
You can download CQC standards on their website .
Good luck
Thank you so much for troubling to reply. I feel quite reassured. I don't think my mother will notice her missing boob, if it has to be done, as she is quite unaware of her appearance or clothes. So sad she used to be such a smart lady doing her own tailoring etc.
Sue
