I had cancer over 20 years ago and now have bladder cancer. The consultant for the bladder cancer is a woman, very switched on and organised and I am happy to believe what she says and trust her judgment. It was also thought that I may have lung cancer (NEVER smoked!) and the rather dismissive male doctor said I would need this specific x ray and that he would contact me and discuss the results. Had the x ray and after 2 weeks of not receiving a letter or phone call from the specialist, I naturally was getting more worried and rang only to find he had "forgotten" to post a letter to me. Said there was a shadow on the lung that needed to be watched. Said sorry on the phone but no letter of apology and result is , they say that they need to check it but nothing is happening, not getting any bigger etc. You will understand why I dont trust a word he says and think he has behaved badly and in a cavalier manner. Wrote to the hospital regarding this , because I dont want anyone else to go through this and miss important treatment. My other gripe is ageism! Whatever you have a problem with , you are told you should expect that at your age. Why??? I had a very dear friend I met out walking when I was 40 and she was 82. She was very fit, walked , played a bit of tennis etc lived on her own and took no medication. When she had hip problems I took her to the hospital and she was in a wheelchair. The receptionist said "what medication do you tgake" to which Marjorie replied "None" The woman looked at me and said does she have her medication with her?" to which I replied"Ask her yourself. She is sitting there" She then asked Marjorie when she had been in hospital and her gp etc. Marjorie had only been in a nursing home to have her two children, took no medication, her gp had retired and she did not know the name of the new one!" I realize that not many people are as fit as her, but it is good for people to learn toat being old does not necessarily mean being ill!
