Cancer misdiagnosed as depression
A West Coast man has advanced brain cancer after his headaches and memory loss were diagnosed as depression.
The West Coast District Health Board is investigating a complaint that Westport man David Bain’s brain cancer was misdiagnosed by a locum GP.
In December 2013, Bain was diagnosed with a superficial spreading melanoma above his left ear, which was removed along with 49 lymph nodes. His grandfather and aunt both had a history of brain tumours.
Bain visited Buller Health Medical Centre in September 2015, complaining of a headache and low energy, and was given antidepressants by a locum GP.
He visited the GP three more times as his symptoms got worse, including memory loss and blurred vision.
His partner, Jasmine Jackson, then took him to hospital and he was diagnosed with stage four melanoma just a few days later.
‘‘It’s really disappointing. It probably wouldn’t be as bad as it is now if something was done when I first told them what was happening,’’ Jackson said.
The West Coast District Health Board said it received a complaint about Bain’s treatment and was investigating.
Figures released under the Official Information Act showed Buller Health Medical Centre had 28 locum doctors covering 2.44 fulltime equivalent positions in the last financial year.
When Bain had a CT scan in April 2015, his neck, chest, abdomen and pelvis were found to be clear of cancerous cells. His head was not included in the scan.
‘‘I thought I was in the clear,’’ Bain said.
His headaches got worse when he was released from prison in June after serving time for driving offences. His condition deteriorated after his first visit to a GP in September.
‘‘He started getting double vision and he had no balance. He couldn’t walk properly, he had extreme headaches, he was sick all the time and . . . sleeping all the time,’’ Jackson said.
‘‘You could just tell by looking at him, something was wrong in his face. I felt like nobody would listen to me.’’
She said Bain was acting unusually. One time, he gave the family’s roast chicken meal to their pet dogs and on multiple occasions he did not notice their 2-year-old daughter, Ivy, existed.
‘‘I was confused . . . I thought I just had depression,’’ Bain said.
A locum GP requested a CT scan of Bain’s head at Grey Base Hospital in December, which was initially refused after a specialist assessed his condition. Jackson said a CT was eventually scheduled for January 7.
By January 4, Jackson said she was desperate for help as Bain’s condition continued to worsen, so she approached Buller Hospital ahead of the scheduled CT scan.
Bain was referred to Grey Base Hospital, where he had an urgent scan.
‘‘They called me at two in the morning to tell me he had a large tumour on the left side of his brain. He got flown up to Christchurch a few hours later for an eight-hour operation,’’ Jackson said.
The cancer was diagnosed as stage four melanoma.
‘‘It pretty much means it’s terminal, that they won’t be able to get it under control and all they can do is try and prolong his life . . . they haven’t given us a timeframe yet.’’
Jackson said since the diagnosis, Bain had undergone radiotherapy and another operation after part of his skull became infected. He was recovering well and regaining control of his body.
The locum GP could not be reached for comment.