Mother Faces Eviction After Mouth Cancer Missed Due to Covid Restrictions

Nicole Freeman, a 30-year-old mother of three, is facing a difficult situation after her mouth cancer was missed due to Covid restrictions. The 15-hour surgery she underwent left her unable to speak and requiring tube feeding. Now, she is facing eviction due to mounting debts incurred during her treatment and rehabilitation.

Nicole's ordeal began in November 2020 when she noticed a sore at the back of her tongue while pregnant with her third child. Lockdown measures prevented her from seeing her GP in person, and she was advised over the phone to use Bonjela for what was misdiagnosed as a harmless mouth ulcer. Despite sending photos and calling five times, the seriousness of her condition went unnoticed.

It wasn't until March 2021, while giving birth to her daughter Nevaeh, that her cancer was finally detected by a midwife. By then, Nicole had lost her ability to speak and was using an iPad to communicate. A biopsy confirmed oral cancer, and doctors warned that if it had gone untreated any longer, she would not have survived the summer.

During her recovery, Nicole was placed in a care home for respite. However, mounting council tax and rent arrears left her facing prosecution and possible eviction. "I unknowingly fell into debt while focusing on my treatment and recovery," Nicole shared. "I'm desperate to return to normal life with my children in our adapted home."

Citizens Advice has helped stave off immediate threats, but Nicole has just one week to pay her council tax in full. She is appealing for donations to help cover her debts and regain stability for her family.

The number of mouth cancer cases in the UK has reached a record-breaking high, surpassing 10,000 for the first time. The Oral Health Foundation blames cases missed due to lockdown measures and overstretched NHS services for some of the rise.

"The NHS dental contract and workforce shortages need to be addressed urgently. Being able to access a dentist and get a timely referral is not only about healthy teeth and gums, but it could also be lifesaving."

A World Health Organisation (WHO) study found that nearly a quarter of all new cancer cases may have been missed during the Covid pandemic. Researchers said lockdown measures and pressures on healthcare systems saw diagnoses of the disease drop by 23 per cent globally, suggesting it was not identified in around one million people.

"Life years lost to lockdown delays in cancer diagnosis and treatment will far exceed those lost to Covid. The warnings were made.