A mother struggles with eviction after cancer treatment left her in debt
London: A mother named Nicole Freeman is in a tough spot. She’s facing eviction after her mouth cancer went undiagnosed during the pandemic. It’s been a rough two years for her.
At just 30, Nicole can’t speak and relies on a feeding tube after a major surgery took half her tongue. She’s now trying to raise £6,000 to settle her debts.
It all started in November 2020 when she noticed a sore on her tongue while pregnant. But with lockdowns in place, she couldn’t see her doctor. Instead, she was told to treat it like a simple ulcer.
It wasn’t until March 2021, during childbirth, that a midwife finally caught the cancer. By then, Nicole had lost her voice and was using an iPad to communicate. A biopsy confirmed the worst, and doctors warned her that time was running out.
While recovering, she ended up in a care home, but bills piled up. Now, she’s facing eviction and feels overwhelmed. “I fell into debt while just trying to get better,” she said. “I want to get back to normal with my kids.”
She’s reached out for help, and Citizens Advice is trying to buy her some time. But she needs to pay her council tax soon or risk losing her home.
Sadly, mouth cancer cases in the UK are hitting record highs, with over 10,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Experts say lockdowns and stretched NHS services are partly to blame.
Last year, around 3,600 people in the UK lost their lives to mouth cancer, a significant increase from previous years. More than half of the cases are diagnosed at advanced stages, making treatment even harder.
Dr. Nigel Carter from the Oral Health Foundation emphasizes the need for better access to dental care. He believes timely referrals can save lives.
Research shows that nearly a quarter of new cancer cases may have been missed during the pandemic, highlighting the ongoing impact of Covid on healthcare.
Experts warn that the delays in cancer diagnosis and treatment could lead to more lives lost than those lost to Covid itself. It’s a serious situation that needs urgent attention.
