MISDIAGNOSED ANKLE CAUSES CANCER TO SPREAD THROUGH MOTHERS WHOLE BODY
An Indigenous woman has been diagnosed with cancer, twelve months after she presented to Port Hedland hospital with a sore ankle.
Mother of 3, Kyrene Clinch of Port Hedland was flown by the RFDS to Perth on the 14th of May for surgery at the Royal Perth Hospital.
12 months ago, Ms Clinch presented at the hospital with a sore ankle and was told it was sprained and was sent home with panadol.
On the 16th of April, Ms Clinch gave birth via cesarean to a baby boy and on the 12th of May, she had severe chest pains and went to the Port Hedland hospital where she was later diagnosed with cancer.
Corey Chulung is the husband of Ms Clinch and is devastated. He says that the Doctors told them last week that there is a strong indication that the cancer is connected to her ankle, but they are still awaiting results.
Mr. Chulong says they came in and they confirmed that it was cancer in her ankle, they were saying they strongly believe the cancer was inside her bone and when her ankle fractured it spread throughout her entire body.
He believes his wife was misdiagnosed and was not paid enough attention. If they had known 12 months ago that her sore ankle was fatal - they would not have had a baby and would have had more time to fight cancer.
“There is a lot of it (cancer) through her entire body, this didn’t happen just in the last nine months. If they took their job seriously the first time she went in with pain we wouldn’t have decided to have another baby if we had known this. We found out after the baby was born. Our son is going to grow up without a Mum.”
Mr Chulung is seeking legal advice as he believes his partner has been mistreated.
Ms Clinch is now at Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital and Mr Chulung said the treatment is better there
“They told us about it, said it was a very rare form of cancer. She (the nurse) doesn’t believe that the chemo will work. It’s a mutating cancer, apparently, it’s growing its own bones inside of her. They keep asking me if I want to do counselling and stuff - even if I do the counselling it’s not going to give me any satisfaction. They need to pay for what they have done. The hardest thing was explaining to my 11-year-old and nine-year-old that their mothers got cancer.”
Mr Chulung said that the doctors could not confirm if his partner would have 12 months to live.
WA health has been contacted for comment.
The WA Country Health Service has “no issue” with the care provided to Hedland woman Kyrene Clinch, who was diagnosed with cancer 12 months after presenting to Hedland hospital with a sore ankle.
Regional Medical Director Dr Nicolaas Van Zyl says the hospital reviewed the care extended to Ms Clinch and found no fault with the care provided.
“The senior doctor who undertook the review noted that the management and referral for further assessment was appropriate based on the available information when Ms Clinch presented to hospital,” he said in a written statement.
“To ensure we weren’t missing any opportunities for improvement, the WA Country Health Service’s Clinical Excellence division also undertook their own review of this case.
“Their findings reiterated that of the hospital’s, and no issues with the care provided were identified.”
Ms Clinch presented at the hospital with a sore ankle 12 months ago and was told it was sprained and was sent home with panadol.
On April 16, Ms Clinch gave birth via cesarean to a baby boy and on May 12 she had severe chest pains and went to the Port Hedland hospital where she was later diagnosed with cancer.
