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"Stage 4 Cancer Uterine diagnosis"

About: Forth Valley Royal Hospital / Gynaecology

(as the patient),

In Sept 24 I received the devastating news that I had stage 4 carcinosarcoma (a very aggressive cancer). The prognosis is not good. What added to my distress was that 7 months earlier I had been told that I had a couple of fibroids and not to worry. At that time I had  the worrying signs of cancer. Post menopausal bleeding and a close family history of Ovarian cancer and I had been prescribed oestrogen pessaries the year before because of discomfort when having a smear test. There is a danger with using oestrogen as it feeds cancer cells. So I would have thought with all these danger signs and in my mid 60s a biopsy should have been performed given that the sooner they can detect cancer the better the chance of survival.

However I was told fibroids and prescribed oestrogen cream. Now I'd like to say that once diagnosed with cancer my treatment may have improved but that sadly was not the case.

The one thing I really wanted to understand was should a biopsy have been done because I knew I could not be the only person that this could happen to. What if these opportunities are missed on younger women not taking in to account family history etc? I put in a formal complaint to Forth Valley Hospital in September 24 and stated the reason I wanted an answer was to prevent this happening to anyone else.

Nine months later I am still waiting for a reply. I have gone through Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy and now Immunotherapy and still they haven't answered my complaint. I have spoken to the PR dept in the hospital and asked them for their help to give me some peace of mind.

I was assured recently that they were not just waiting for me to die but I really do not believe them anymore. I put in a freedom of Information request asking how long it was taking for complaints to be answered and they said 28.1 days on average. I asked if there were other complaints against the Doctor in question they said no. When I complained to the FOI about the answers, they promised a review and told me they would reply. I'm still waiting. 

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Responses

Response from Kirsty MacInnes, Service Manager, Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Sexual Health/Senior Midwife, Women, Children's & Sexual Health Directorate, NHS Forth Valley last month
Kirsty MacInnes
Service Manager, Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Sexual Health/Senior Midwife, Women, Children's & Sexual Health Directorate,
NHS Forth Valley
Submitted on 19/05/2025 at 13:32
Published on Care Opinion at 13:32


Dear orangecj58

Thank you for taking the time to post on Care Opinion. I am so sorry to read about your diagnosis, and the subsequent delay you have experienced in receiving a response following the submission of your formal complaint. This is below the standard that we would expect, and I am sorry that this has been your experience.

I have spoken directly to Dr Aileen Cope, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist and Clinical Director, and she would be more than happy to discuss the concerns you have raised with you directly, if you feel this would be beneficial.

As Care Opinion is an anonymous forum, Dr Cope has asked me to pass on her secretary's phone number, should you wish to make an appointment to see Dr Cope:

Dr Cope's secretary Tel. No: 01324 567154

Alternatively, you can email Dr Cope directly:

aileen.cope@nhs.scot

I do hope that your concerns will be addressed satisfactorily.

Best wishes

Kirsty MacInnes

Service Manager / Senior Midwife

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