Newquay dad, 42, died weeks after discovering deadly 'mouth ulcer'
A father and musician died weeks after getting a terminal cancer diagnosis having previously thought he had a mouth ulcer. Richard Paul Gale, 42, was diagnosed with mouth cancer after having trouble eating and concentrating.
An inquest was held at Cornwall's coroner's court in Truro, on Tuesday, September 24, to establish the circumstances around his death. It heard how Richard, who first attended his doctor surgery on January 3, was reluctant to be admitted to hospital despite advice from his GP.
The Newquay man did not attend further medical appointments made for him in the days that followed after reporting mouth pain in January. When he did finally attend hospital days later he was given pain relief and tests were carried out.
Various investigations took place and he was diagnosed in February with carcinoma of the tongue with his cancer described as "very invasive" and inoperable. He initially reacted well to chemotherapy and was described as having improved around the middle of March with his tumour shrinking.
At the end of March, he attended hospital for his second cycle of chemotherapy and was discharged home on April 4. By April 9 he was described as "very unwell" and presented with an infection at home where he was seen by a community nurse.
He told a community healthcare practitioner he had too much work on and was losing money due to treatment and did not want to attend the hospital. He told them the same on April 10 as his condition worsened.
Paramedics twice attended his property on April 10 as they were concerned for his welfare but there was no answer. He was confirmed deceased on April 11 having been found unconscious by his housemate that evening. It was believed he collapsed and banged his head on the television at his home in Newquay.
The inquest heard how, on diagnosis, Richard was told he had just four to six months to live. Due to his high-functioning autism and Aspergers, a specialist plan was put in place for Richard's treatment and care and he had also been given a 24-hour helpline.
A keen musician, his parents described him as a "lovely son, brother and father" in a statement provided to the coroner. They said: "He was attentive and constructive in his life". They told how he was dedicated to his career in music having worked as a composer, producer, performer, developer and teacher. In his spare time he also enjoyed game development.
Emma Hillson, assistant coroner for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly recorded a conclusion of natural causes. She said: "On the evidence I've heard, Richard Gale died as a result of pneumonia and blood clots in the lung as a result of his metastatic cancer."