Mum-of-one says cancer surgery ‘cancelled indefinitely’ because hospital is overrun with Covid patients

A mum-of-one has claimed that her urgent womb cancer surgery has been “cancelled indefinitely” because the hospital is overrun with Covid-19 patients.

Angela DePastino, 46, said her cancer “gets worse every day" after being diagnosed with the disease in June 2021 and had been scheduled for a total hysterectomy.

She was meant to have an operation on Monday but that was cancelled and is yet to be rescheduled.

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The psychotherapist said her cancer is getting worse by the day, and has pleaded with people to consider whether mixing with others - and spreading Covid - is worth more than her life.

‘The hospital said they were experiencing a Covid surge’

Angela, from Essex said: "The hospital said to me that they were experiencing a 'Covid surge' and that's why they couldn't do my surgery.

"They said they had 20 patients in A&E waiting for beds and the wards were already full due to a surge in Covid patients that saw them having to take over the ward for surgery patients because they have to keep all the Covid risks separate and isolated.

"I enquired as to if I could go somewhere else for the hysterectomy and the hospital said they are looking into it but they are already being asked to take other hospital's patients because they're experiencing surges as well.

"It's not just my hospital, it appears to be happening pretty much everywhere.

"I don't blame the NHS I don't feel any hate towards them, the NHS have saved my life, and this isn't their fault."

‘Every day, the cancer gets worse’

With no idea of how long her surgery will be delayed, Angela has now been left fearing for her life with every day that she waits risking her life even further.

In a post on her Instagram page, Angela wrote: 'My urgent cancer surgery has been cancelled. Indefinitely. For the foreseeable future.

'Because the hospital’s overrun. With Covid patients. There aren’t enough beds. And the hospital doesn’t know when there will be. This is devastating news.

'For me, personally, every day counts. Every day, the cancer gets worse. Every day, my outcome gets worse. I. Don’t. Have. The. Luxury. Of. Time.

'And I’m only one of many. Of hundreds. Thousands. It’s not OK.

'Differing views aside, surely we can all agree that non-crucial things like socialising, holidays, events, etc. shouldn’t be paid for with the lives of others? (Especially those who, through no fault of their own, are ill & fighting to survive.)

'Here, in England, the government has lifted restrictions. To let the public do what they want. So here’s the crux of this post; what I want to say: Do the right thing.

'In every situation: think & re-think. Is what you’re about to do worth another person’s life - a drink at the pub, a night out/in with friends, a film, a sports event, a wedding, a “bit of fun”, whatever?

'If someone you knew was going to die as a result - or lose access to life-saving treatment - would it still be worth it? What if it was someone you loved? Or you, yourself?

'What about me? Is it worth my life?

Angela’s battle against cancer

Angela's battle with cancer began back in October 2020 when she was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer.

After having two tumours and a third of her colon removed, Angela underwent chemotherapy and found out she had the genetic disorder Lynch syndrome.

People with Lynch syndrome are more likely to get colorectal cancer and other cancers, and at a younger age.

Last month, Angela was diagnosed with womb cancer.

Her hysterectomy at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, Essex, was cancelled three days before she was due in hospital.

Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust has been approached for comment.

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