Mother who survived breast cancer can’t get a scan despite being in pain
Carer left in limbo is one of many missing out on vital screening services, say charities in call for HSE reboot
A NURSE and mother-of-two who has survived cancer has been told she can’t be given a date for a mammogram – despite showing concerning symptoms – due to current Covid-19 restrictions in hospitals.
Laarnie Beattie, 48, a mother of 12year-old twin girls, who cares for her husband Gerry, 50, who recently survived a stroke, was told by her doctor she was ‘in the system but it’s out of his hands’ when it comes to her urgent mammogram.
Laarnie, who is living in Roscommon, told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘They just don’t know when I’ll be seen. I’m very worried because when I went last month I was in pain. The side of my breast was tender, it was very painful and I was given a very high pain medication. It’s still on and off... the pain.
‘I’m not pleased not knowing if there’s anything new. I’m doing my best to examine myself to see if there are any new lumps but you can’t really confirm until you have the mammogram.’
Irish Cancer Society chief executive Averil Power said it was vital cancer services were restored to normal.
‘The health service must be restarted
‘I’m very worried because I was in pain’
and reorganised as we move into the next phases of this pandemic, and as we do this it is absolutely vital that cancer services are prioritised.
‘Unless normal patterns of cancer diagnosis and treatment return soon there is a serious risk that delayed diagnoses and treatment backlogs will lead to a second wave of Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. ‘
‘We have outlined a number of key actions to the Minister for Health that we believe will help get cancer services back to full capacity, and able to safely deal with the backlog that has built up
‘This includes a roadmap to restarting screening, increasing capacity in diagnostics and the rescheduling of any non-urgent surgeries and treatments that were paused due to infection control measures.
‘All of the necessary resources must be made available to ensure that cancer services can operate at elevated levels in order to catch up.’
Ms Power said the safety of patients and staff must be paramount and central to decisions on how to restore services safely.
‘The restoration of cancer services must be done in a way that has clear targets and accountability. The recovery of cancer services must be tackled urgently to ensure that we do not see lives needlessly lost to cancer.’
Laarnie was originally diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017, a biopsy was taken of a lump found in her right breast, followed by a lumpectomy and she also had lymph nodes taken from her right arm. She underwent radium treatment.
Last month, she developed significant pain, particularly when lying down. She said she feels like she is in limbo and an appointment would give her ‘real peace of mind’.
Laarnie, who is trained as a nurse but is working as a home care assistant as it gives her flexible hours to care for her family, added: ‘I’m just waiting and praying that everything will be all right. It’s so concerning. I’m a carer for my husband, his left side is still weak from his stroke. He’s not using his left hand. I’m doing the driving when we go to Beaumont for his check-ups. At the same time I’m working and caring for our two girls. I need to stay at home. If a new growth comes, I don’t know, a lot of things are going on in my mind. If I had my mammogram, I would be very much at peace. I have another appointment to see
my oncologist in October but what’s the point if I don’t have the mammogram result? I need to know what’s really happening. If I can get the answers I’ll be able to focus on my husband now.’ The Marie Keating Foundation told the MoS that it is now time for the State to refocus resources on chronic illnesses as severe, unnecessary delays are being identified in diagnoses. A spokeswoman told the MoS: ‘The Marie Keating Foundation is increasingly concerned over calls it is receiving in relation to symptomatic patients experiencing delays in accessing follow-up diagnostic appointments.
‘The unprecedented pressure the health system experienced as a result of the Covid-19 crisis has meant that understandably resources had to be reallocated for some time. However, it is now time to ensure that resources are put back into areas within the health system that deal with chronic disease, including oncology.
‘We echo the HSE’s call for anyone experiencing symptoms to see their GP without delay but it is crucial that when they do and are referred on that they can be seen in a timely manner.
‘It is imperative that wherever people access the health system they are all afforded access to follow-up appointments in the same timeframe, according to all National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) guidelines issued to GPs with direct electronic access to Rapid Access Clinics, if clinically indicated.
‘Unfortunately we have received a number of calls from people who are experiencing delays in this regard and so are looking for clarity from the HSE on this.’
The charity also called for a clear roadmap for screening services to be announced with urgency.
A spokesperson for the 221+ group of women affected by the CervicalCheck scandal agreed.
‘Any delay in treatment or assessment has an enormous effect on the health, psychological and economic welfare of patients and their families, ‘ they said. ‘We need a clear roadmap to remove the uncertainty which is just building fear.’