Laura Morgan had greater than 20 appointments nevertheless it wasn’t till she demanded to see one other physician that the devastating reality emerged
A mum who claims her signs have been dismissed by medical doctors for 2 years has now been recognized with stage 4 most cancers. Laura Morgan, from the Neath space, stated she had been backwards and forwards to medical doctors “about 20 instances” earlier than she was recognized with a kind of superior lymphoma in July, 2025.
Previous to her analysis, Laura felt medical doctors didn’t study her correctly, misdiagnosed her with a chest an infection, and even combined up her medical notes with these of one other affected person on multiple event.
The 41-year-old stated she was sharing her story as a cautionary story to encourage folks to be persistent in the event that they felt dismissed by a well being skilled. She stated: “Ask to talk to a special physician, go to a special surgical procedure, hold going.
“You understand when one thing is unsuitable along with your physique. Should you really feel there’s something unsuitable along with your physique and that physician doesn’t take heed to you, search another person’s recommendation.
“At all times battle in your rights as a result of in the event you do not, you would find yourself lifeless.” Keep knowledgeable on every part Neath Port Talbot by signing as much as our publication right here
Laura defined that her nightmare started way back to late 2022. She was pregnant and had developed a cough, though at this level she was not fearful it could be something sinister.
She advised WalesOnline: “I had been down the medical doctors throughout my being pregnant concerning the cough. At the start we had some dampness in the home so we thought that was inflicting it.”
Nevertheless, Laura stated the cough didn’t go away and she or he developed extra worrying signs. She claimed she went to see a health care provider on quite a few events however felt “palmed off”.
She stated: “I stored going to the medical doctors saying I had this actually dangerous cough, I felt actually unwell and I had no vitality. My legs damage, my physique damage and I simply felt totally different. I used to be sweating masses within the evening and my cough wouldn’t go away.
“They advised me I used to be sweating as a result of I had simply had a child and that I had a cough as a result of I simply wasn’t nicely,” she claimed. She stated she felt, “they have been palming me off, however I do know that I felt totally different.”
Laura stated round this time she had an unrelated operation, following which she had an appointment and it claimed it grew to become clear that her medical notes had been combined up with these of a special affected person.
In the meantime, Laura stated: “I stored going again as a result of my legs weren’t working correctly, I had misplaced a great deal of weight and the life had been sucked out of me. I had additionally misplaced a stone and a half.
“The physician stated it was as a result of I had had an operation or as a result of I had had a child. I used to be saying it’s not due to these causes.
“I stated: ‘I perceive what you might be saying however these are issues I’ve handled all through my life, and these signs usually are not regular for me. It’s good to take heed to me.’”
Laura stated she developed again ache and located lumps in her neck, and so she booked one other physician appointment as suggested by the NHS when new lumps are discovered.
Nevertheless, she felt her physician didn’t study her correctly. Her notes have been additionally combined up with these of one other affected person but once more, she claimed.
She stated: “I went again once more as a result of I had lumps in my neck and I had a extremely dangerous ache in my again that wouldn’t go away. It wasn’t a light ache, it was a ache I couldn’t bear and nothing would take the ache away. I discovered the lumps in my neck after I was attempting to therapeutic massage the ache away.
“I may really feel that these lumps have been getting greater after which extra little lumps have been coming.
“I had developed an enormous lump on the entrance of my neck and I used to be attempting to clarify [to the doctor] that I couldn’t breathe correctly due to the again of my throat and cough.”
She claimed: “The physician wouldn’t really feel the lumps on my neck, he wouldn’t take heed to my chest, however he stated I’ve a chest an infection.
“I stated: ‘However I’ve lumps in my neck,’ and he stated: ‘Sure, you’ve a chest an infection.’ After I pointed to the lump within the entrance of my neck, which was simply seen, he stated once more that I simply had an an infection. He gave me antibiotics and so I went to the chemist.”
At this level Laura stated she was unable to acquire any prescription due to a mixture up.
Following this she put in a proper grievance together with with Llais, Wales’ unbiased citizen voice physique for well being and social care.
She claimed medical doctors had gone intervals of time with out responding to Llais.
Following that interplay, and along with her signs persevering with, Laura stated she went again and demanded she be seen by a special physician at a special location.
She stated: “I spent actually two minutes within the room with this physician. I advised her I had a extremely dangerous cough and nightsweats and pointed as soon as to the lump on my neck.
“Inside minutes she stated: ‘One thing actually dangerous is happening with you, we have to get you examined extra.’ I then had scans and assessments. I had a CT scan inside per week.”
Laura stated she discovered her devastating ends in the worst potential manner, when one other physician phoned her in late July.
Laura stated: “I used to be in Swansea with my kids on our personal. A physician phoned me and requested the place I used to be and I replied saying I used to be out with my kids in Swansea.
“[The doctor] stated: ‘Simply so you understand we expect you might have a type of lymphoma, have you learnt what that’s? Is there most cancers in your loved ones?’ I didn’t know how one can take that in. I assumed that was what appointments have been for.
“I felt like my world was falling aside. I wished to cry my eyes out and I could not as a result of I used to be with my youngsters.”
Additional assessments have since revealed that Laura’s lymphoma is at stage 4, which implies she has to bear notably intensive therapy.
She doesn’t but know her prognosis and is awaiting extra scans to find out if her therapy is working.
She stated the sickness and therapy have been having a profound influence on her and her household.
She stated: “I’m not the individual I was and I can’t do the issues I used to. I’ve a lot ache in my legs due to my bones and I get breathless.
“I’m worn in and out between that I’ve actually dangerous insomnia so I can’t sleep.
“I shouldn’t have needed to undergo all this. I may have had a easy three months of therapy if that they had listened to me.
“My 4 kids would not have needed to see me so unwell. It’s my kids and household who’re going via this as nicely.
“They should not have to fret at such a younger age whether or not their mum goes to outlive.”
Reflecting on her interactions with medical doctors, Laura stated she felt gaslit and as if she was dropping her thoughts.
She stated: “It made me suppose I used to be making stuff up and I used to be consideration looking for, or like I had Munchausen syndrome or one thing.
“I regarded like loss of life. You couldn’t take a look at me [at the time] and say there was nothing unsuitable with me as a result of I regarded like loss of life.
“I feel they dismissed me as a result of they thought I used to be a nag and since my bloods got here again regular (blood assessments alone can’t all the time rule out most cancers), however felt they wouldn’t take heed to me as a affected person.
“Typically I’d query them, however typically I would not. I’m a extremely robust individual and quite a few instances I got here out of there they usually had made me cry.”
A dementia carer herself, Laura added: “I’d by no means deal with a affected person like this – not in one million years.”
Shortly after being off on maternity go away, Laura has needed to go away work once more whereas she undergoes therapy. In the meantime, her husband has needed to cease work to develop into her carer.
Laura’s pal Adele has arrange a GoFundMe web page to assist cut back the monetary stress on the household, notably over the Christmas interval. You possibly can assist Laura and her household right here.
Laura stated: “[Adele] and my sister have been completely excellent since I have been unwell.
“We grew up collectively and she or he’s been my greatest pal via my entire complete life.
“I do not really feel like I may dwell with out her. She and my sister have been the best assist in the entire world.
“She set it up simply so we are able to pay the payments as a result of my husband needed to cease working to be my full time carer. We have by no means not labored earlier than.
“We’ve all the time been a working household and by no means able the place we’ve got needed to declare advantages.
“The final six or seven weeks have been a large wrestle.”
Laura supplied consent to the medical doctors involved to permit them to debate her claims with WalesOnline.
A spokesman for them stated they took “any issues concerning the high quality of care, workers conduct, and administrative processes in major care extraordinarily critically.
“Nevertheless, we’re unable to remark or focus on any particulars as a consequence of an obligation of affected person confidentiality.
“Any complaints raised are investigated via the suitable governance and complaints processes.”
