Avoidance Behaviours and Missed Opportunities in a Case of Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Table 1
A timeline of events.
1999
Received wide local excision and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy for breast cancer
2009
Discharged from oncology follow-up, disease-free
2012
Discharged from dermatology follow-up
Sep. 2013
Admitted for beta-blocker related syncope. No mention of the right neck lesion in discharge summaries
Sep. 2014
Admitted to a short-stay ward following a fall Treated for a urinary tract infection and anaemia The patient refused investigation of the right neck mass and is deemed to have full capacity
Jan. the 2nd of 2015
GP referred the patient to the Head and Neck MDT after being alerted to her general deterioration by her carers
Jan. the 7th of 2015
Referred to hospital for general deterioration and pain. CT-chest/abdomen/pelvis performed Referral to palliative care made
Jan. the 13th of 2015
Initial Head and Neck MDt discussion. Biopsy reported poorly invasive squamous cell carcinoma
Jan. the 20th of 2015
The Head and Neck MDT opt for palliative radiotherapy. The patient begins treatment for pneumonia
