Alison Trotter
Alison Trotter, from Buckinghamshire, died of head and neck cancer in a hospice in June 2021. She had three major operations to remove tumours in her upper and lower jaws, as well as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. Her husband Danny describes how, despite receiving good care, Alison died a painful death.
“The care Alison received in the hospice was outstanding, but her pain and symptoms could not be relieved. The cancer had eroded much of one side of her face leaving a very large hole that prevented her from eating and drinking. She also could not be intubated because the tumour had blocked her nostrils.
She reached a point where she said she wanted to die and her medical team said they would increase her dose of pain relief to alleviate any further suffering. However, this made little difference as she had developed a tolerance to her opiate painkillers. Her pain management drugs made her sleepy but she still continued to wake up in agony.
At one point she wrote ‘help’ on a piece of paper. I felt completely powerless.
It took her 15 long days of suffering for her to die. This terrible experience left our family traumatised. Sadly, we came to realise that the very best palliative care she had received at the hospice could not in itself have prevented her suffering.”
