just need to rant...

can you believe it.
tomorrow I begin some more chemotherapy for lung mets..

guess what....I still haven't been given/assured that the cancer hasn't invaded the bowel , the reason I had the mri scan..

I rang the cancer care line last week..."we haven't had the report yet....basically couldn't care less.

the mri report was meant to have been discussed at the mdt meeting, not a word, despite me ringing the cancer line.
I rang them again today, still waiting for a reply.

if I was an important celebrity, I am sure this would be handled quite differently, instead of being an insignificant pensioner.

so basically, investigations after major surgery in 2016, weren't addressed despite me telling oncology numerous times that the surgeon identified the possible bowel cancer, now I am in a high state of anxiety not knowing what will happen next.
what a shambles.

How frustrating for you. Actually, beyond frustrating. Is there anyone you can talk to at a higher level? Could you ask for an appointment with the Consultant in the field? Sounds like lack of joined up awareness. Good luck. You poor thing. This is a rotten situation.

yes, the thought that if I hadn't taken steps in 2019 to have the procedures that proved to be malignant operated on, the cancer would still be growing unchecked.

now spending stressful days and nights now knowing if all of the cancer had been taken, just adds to an already stressful time.
having repeatedly called the cancer line for the mri result ,to be told haha, the computer says no, except its not funny.

waiting for reply from the cancer line now, hopefully the scan will be clear and not invaded the bowel, just the known cancer in the lungs for treatment tomorrow.

I had a long discussion with the oncologist last month , asking why the treatment from 2016/7 hadnt been carried out ,but it was simply denial that it didn't need to be done.
I have the hard copy from the surgeon that it needed to be, so just knocking my head against a brick wall.

wont someone just say, yes we should have done it in 2017 but...well you just slipped through the net....

but no, why should they bother, I am just a name or number to them.
its not a ingrowing toenail, its stage 4 cancer.
.

I think they don't acknowledge any failings on their part in case of repercussions. It's up to you to prove it, and that only adds to an already stressful situation for you.
Best wishes for tomorrow xx

Why don’t hospitals and GP staff appreciate how stressful it is to wait for the results of tests etc? It is very stressful and stress is bad for our health. A friend of mine has numerous health issues, was having difficulty walking and after pestering her GP for help had an MRI scan a few weeks ago. The GP surgery phoned her and told her to make an appointment with the GP as the result was abnormal and she had to wait two weeks for an appointment
. Since she had breast cancer two years ago and there were cancer cells in the lymph nodes which were removed her imagination went into overdrive and I was worried for her too. When she went to the appointment she was told she had a crushed vertebra, osteoporosis and was prescribed medication. Why couldn’t this have been done over the telephone to ease her concerns? Our GP sets aside an evening each week for telephoning priority patients and soon after I had a lumpectomy she telephoned me to see how I was; it was unexpected and appreciated.

Jane I had a letter within a week of having a MRI (after they had said 2 weeks ) to make an appointment with GP. Obviously I expected bad news but no it wasn't. Only I couldn't be told anything till I saw the doctor!

I'd had an X-ray then the phone call to see the doctor. I was going on holiday before the next available appointment and needed to know if there was anything relevant to tell my travel insurance company so the receptionist read the result over the phone to me, very obliging. (X-ray was clear but further investigation ie ultrasound needed).
Can't fault my GP practice.

well, thank you for your interest and replies.

eventually after repeated calls to the cancer designated care line over the last two weeks, only to be told each time "the result isn't ready yet"...it simply wasn't TRUE AT ALL.
even contacting toe oncologists secretary to be told the same.
the stress has been awful.
finally Monday this week I got a call from the cancer care line to say that in fact the report had been discussed in the last mdt meeting and it is clear thank god.

so I began my 12th cycle of chemotherapy Tuesday in the knowledge that it isn't for an additional cancer site.

BUT,....I still have the question that leaves me wide awake at night.
If I hadnt arrange for the procedures to be done which happened 3 times in 2019, which proved malignant, they would still be GROWING inside me,as no one followed up on surgeons 2016 instruction despite me telling them all over 22017/8/9 it was imperative to do it.

no one listens.

Yeragain how dreadful! Luckily your latest scans are fine but what a performance from beginning to end! We should be able to trust our doctors and hospitals 100% but sadly this is not always the case.

I am so sorry Yeragain you have had a horrible experience, and the worry is dreadful. Thinking of you as you go forward with your treatment

We have recently concluded that we are going to have to take more responsibility for our own health which is fine as long as we are able to and we may have to fund some treatment ourselves. DH has recently been seeing a physiotherapist for arm pain and a podiatrist for painful ingrowing toenails both of which he has funded himself. The GP felt the arm pain was arthritis and couldn’t offer any more than a painkiller prescription so we decided to consult a physio as our son knows of a good one. Apparently he has a frozen shoulder and we paid for three appointments for advice, exercises etc. At the final appointment she said she was going to send a letter to the GP requesting a cortisone injection to help with the pain. He has been waiting four weeks now and no appointment has come through yet, apparently it can take up to a yea4 as there is a long waiting list. He is a Type 2 diabetic so has to look after his feet and the Surgery have said this isn’t covered by the NHS and although they can check his feet they can’t do any treatment so he has found a good podiatrist. After three visits the podiatrist has recommended he has minor surgery to remove the sides of the nails. So all of this has cost £180 for physio and podiatry appointments so far and will cost £330 for the toenail surgery, add to this the £750 he had to spend on dentures from a private dentist because he was unable to wear the dentures the NHS had provided after three attempts to get them right. It is very worrying that people who aren’t able to pay for such treatments will suffer.

Yeragain65 I realise our problems are minor compared to what you have experienced and I wish you all the best for your upcoming treatment.