20.06.2024 - Lowestoft Grandmother Died From Lung Cancer Which Was Diagnosed More Than Two Years After Abnormal ...

20.06.2024

Daughter Instructs Medical Negligence Lawyers To Investigate Care And Obtain Answers

Lawyers are investigating after a grandmother died from lung cancer which she was diagnosed with more than two years after abnormal growths were found.

Rosalyn Rogers was admitted to James Paget Hospital in Great Yarmouth Norfolk with pneumonia in January 2020. She underwent a CT scan which identified nodules in her lungs. Doctors advised Rosalyn, of Lowestoft, these were likely to be caused by the pneumonia. She was discharged home.

Rosalyn attended three further hospital appointments but remained unwell. By October 2021, she was coughing up blood. She contacted a GP and was referred for a CT scan, which took place that December. She was advised by the GP that it likely showed cancer. However, further hospital tests were reported as showing no signs of cancer.

Woman diagnosed with stage four cancer despite previous tests showing no signs of disease

Rosalyn was referred to another hospital for a second opinion and underwent further tests. She was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in April 2022, for which she underwent chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Despite treatment, she was advised her cancer was terminal. She died in December 2023, aged 66.

Following her diagnosis, Rosalyn, aged 65, instructed expert medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate her care under the James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and help her access the specialist support she required.

Daughter and legal team raise awareness of lung cancer symptoms

Following her death, Rosalyn's daughter Sandy, 43, is continuing with the case. She's now joining with her late mum's legal team in raising awareness around the symptoms of lung cancer.

James Pink is the specialist medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Rosalyn.

Expert Opinion

"Rosalyn's diagnosis and subsequent death has come as a devastating blow to her loved ones, who are all understandably struggling to come to terms with losing her.

"Before she died, Rosalyn had a number of concerns over the care provided to her and whether her cancer could have been diagnosed sooner.

"While nothing can make up for what she went through, we're now investigating the concerns to help provide her family with the answers they deserve.

"Through our work we sadly come across too many people affected by cancer and Rosalyn's loved ones are keen to raise awareness around the condition.

"We'd continue to urge anyone concerned they may have cancer to seek medical advice as soon as possible as early detection and treatment are key to beating it." James Pink

Lung cancer: Rosalyn's story

After Rosalyn was discharged home from James Paget Hospital in January 2020, she attended follow-up appointments in February, March and April to assess the progress of the nodules.

She was advised that the findings were likely to be due to her resolving pneumonia.

Over the next 18 months, Rosalyn's symptoms worsened. When she spoke to her GP in October 2021, she complained of constant back ache, intermittent shortness of breath when wheezing and more frequent coughing, often bringing up phlegm and blood.

Rosalyn was diagnosed with cancer in both lungs six months later. She commenced treatment but died last December.

At the time of her death, Rosalyn was a full-time carer for her husband, Kevin, who has been in poor health. The couple had two children, Sandy, and Ben aged 44 and 42 respectively, and two grandchildren aged seven and four.

Forty-four-year-old pays tribute to 'strong' mum

Sandy, who is now her dad's carer having taken over from Rosalyn, said: "It's still very difficult to comprehend everything we've been through. Mum said she knew something wasn't right but the hospital staff reassured her time and time again.

"For her then be given the diagnosis of stage four cancer was awful. I can't put into words how we all felt that day.

"Mum was normally a very strong person but I could notice her struggling more everyday. Then to lose her just before Christmas last year was unbearable. To this day, I still go to phone or text her then it hits me that she's no longer here.

"All we want now are answers and to raise awareness so that we can potentially help others in the future. It's also important to know that there's support out there for anyone going through what mum did; you don't have to suffer alone."

Find out more about our expertise in supporting patients affected by cancer care failings at our dedicated medical negligence section. Alternatively, to speak to an expert contact usor call 0808 303 8190.

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