Mum’s Pelvis Broken by Chiropractor Days Before Incurable Cancer Diagnosis

A woman from Dennyloanhead, Scotland, discovered she had incurable blood cancer just days after a chiropractor fractured her pelvis in five places, highlighting the potential risks of seeking alternative treatments when underlying conditions are present.

Beverley Johnston, 67, had been experiencing years of back, chest, and leg pain before her myeloma diagnosis in October of last year. Seeking relief, she consulted a chiropractor, but the treatment resulted in a severe pelvic fracture. “The chiropractor came right down on top of me and I remember thinking, ‘Oh my God’,” Johnston recalled. Following a holiday to Croatia despite the injury, scans revealed the fracture and, ultimately, the myeloma diagnosis just three days later.

Johnston underwent a clinical trial involving chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant and is now in remission. She praised the staff at Forth Valley Royal Hospital for their care, stating, “The team have been so reassuring…I’m so privileged that I have a team I can trust.” Myeloma affects over 33,000 people in the UK, and early detection can be challenging as symptoms often mimic other conditions; more information can be found at Myeloma UK.

Yesterday, Forth Valley Royal Hospital received the Myeloma UK Clinical Service Excellence Programme Award for its commitment to patient care. Dr. Robbie McNeil, Consultant Haematologist at NHS Forth Valley, stated the award “reflects our continued focus on improving the quality of life for patients and their families across Forth Valley.” Johnston hopes to return to Croatia to overcome the trauma of her previous trip and is scheduled to finish chemotherapy in December.