hi all well to say that iam in shock but be and understatement. at 8.30 this morning call from lung cancer nurse. her conversation started morning mrs c dr green has asked me to ring yours results are in it is cancer and we have made you an appointment tomorrow at four with the oncoligist is this alright fine then bye.were do these people get there manners from i dont expect to be treated any diffrent from anyone but surely this is not an epceptable way to be told. iam feel very angry and let down after waiting all thes weeks for test results and this is the way the deliver.
FormerMember
Hi Babs
I know that there is no good way to deliver bad news, but I'm sorry you had your news delivered quite so abruptly, and tht is was the worst news. I also had my diagnosis confirmed over the phone, but at least it was the specialist who called me (then his secretary called to make the appointment). I had always imagined the news being given in a quiet room with someone with you gently stroking your hand, perhaps I live in a fantasy world! The medical profession seem to forget that we have feelings and emotions, and a little bit of caring wouldn't go amiss.
Remember that here we all care about you and will help all we can in whatever the future brings you
So sorry that you were told in such a harsh way, but I have to say I am not surprised, Tom got told about his Liver Cancer to his face, they said he had an abnormality, so he asked is it cancer and the doctor said YES, and kept on talking and talking , and poor Tom was on his own and was at least 2 sentences behind the voice of the doctor, trying to take it all in, then he had the awful job of telling me, and watch me fall apart, then we had to drive home. He could not recall much past the sentence of Yes it is cancer.
I think that as part of a doctors, nurse's, receptionists training, they should do a course in how to treat patients with compassion, think before they speak, they could at least have asked if you had anyone at home with you, makes me so angry that they show such little compassion or care.
Please know that we care, and we feel for you , and would like to help where we can.
I am so sorry that all your worst fears have finally been confirmed - and in such a way. What is even more inadmissible is that you are not a one off case - this lack of basic human understanding seems fairly widespread in the NHS - the registrar who operated on my bowel blockage put his foot in his mouth every time he opened it - he was the one who just said in passing my hospital bed that my tumour had spread to my liver, that things looked pretty bad and that the cancer could not be cured. As I was a cancer virgin at the time, I had no idea that this disease can only rarely be cured but that it can be managed, so of course I was totally panic stricken.
Please make sure you tell someone how badly you have been treated. This is such a stressful time, particularly when a long wait is involved. But now you know the worst, so can move on. We Lancashire lasses can cope with anything!!!
I do hope tomorrow's appointment with the oncologist is more positive [sorry - but can't think of another word!] and that he is able to explain in more detail and more sympathetically.
I'll be thinking of you tomorrow and will remember you in my prayers.
((((((((big hugs)))))))))))) I am so sorry that your tests have come back positive. But also horrified at how you were told.
Bad news is never easy to deliver or receive but these people are in the business and are doing it many times a week so should by now have learnt a bit of compassion.
I hope your appointment with the onc went better and that you vented your disgust to her.
