Woman Who Underwent More Than Six Years of Chemotherapy She Says She Didn’t Need, Instructs Lawyers to Investigate

A woman who underwent more than six years of chemotherapy she says she didn’t need has instructed lawyers to investigate amid fears that a number of others have been affected by overtreatment.

Samantha Smith, 45, from Bromsgrove, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in May 2014. She had surgery, but part of the tumour couldn’t be removed. As a result, Samantha, who was under the care of University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust (UHCW), underwent intensive radiotherapy. She was also provided with chemotherapy drugs to take monthly, as advised by consultant oncologist Professor Ian Brown.

Regular MRI scans were carried out. Samantha was told in 2021 – seven years later - that her condition was stable and she could stop taking the medication.

It was only after Professor Brown retired that it was discovered Samantha had undergone six-and-a-half years of unnecessary chemotherapy. A consultant who took over her care confirmed that she needed just six months of treatment, a letter seen by Samantha’s legal team at Irwin Mitchell said.

Guidelines also state the drugs should only be administered for six months.

Samantha and her partner Mark, have now instructed specialist medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate her care.

It comes after the UHCW, which was responsible for employing Professor Brown, said it was carrying out an internal review into what happened and the prolonged use of the medication in question. It has written to Samantha confirming it is investigating her care.

In a letter to Mark, the Trust said it was “very sorry for the excessive treatment” and the impact it’s had on Samantha, including constant fatigue, teeth decay, early menopause, memory lapses, leg pain and a general decreased quality of life.

Leanne Atkinson, the expert medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Samantha, said: “Samantha had every faith in what she was being advised so to be told that more than six years of medication administered to her was completely unnecessary has left her devastated and with so many questions.

“She’s been forced to live with the side effects of the toxic drug, which have taken a significant toll on her health and quality of life. While nothing can change what she’s been through, we’re determined to help her obtain the answers and access to specialist rehabilitation and support she deserves.

“It’s also deeply worrying to hear that Samantha’s case doesn’t appear be an isolated one and that the care provided to a number of patients is now being investigated.”

In its correspondence, the Trust stated that the extended course of chemotherapy Samantha received was not in line with national guidelines and was “not supported by scientific evidence.”

It also confirmed that “actions have been implemented” to ensure this doesn’t happen again. These include stopping the medication at six or 12 cycles, as well as additional input from a clinician, nurse and pharmacist to document the diagnosis and treatment plan at the outset.

Professor Brown has now been referred to the General Medical Council after it transpired another patient underwent more than 14 years of chemotherapy overtreatment.

Samantha, who has been unable to work since her diagnosis, lives with Mark, and their three children.

She said: “Undergoing chemotherapy is a gruelling process and I’ve been very unwell for the best part of a decade. But I told myself it was all worth it to get better.

“So to find out that around six-and-a-half years of my treatment wasn’t needed came as a huge shock.  I feel like that part of my life has been stolen from me, as I spent so long unable to function properly and just getting by day-to-day.

“I also had the burden of getting myself to monthly blood tests, collecting my tablets and keeping myself protected during the pandemic, which wasn’t easy when I felt as ill as I did.

“I wish I could turn back the clock and tell myself to get a second opinion; maybe then this wouldn’t have happened. But I trusted in my consultant, like so many of us do.

“To this day, I still struggle with everything.  I can’t work and I’m plagued by fatigue, infections, rotting teeth and ongoing issues with my mobility.

“All I want to do now is get some answers and help make sure it doesn’t happen to anyone else.”