This Cancer Talk Week we are talking about the general election 2015 and about making sure cancer care is high on the political agenda. Diane is one of three people who have offered to share their story this Cancer Talk Week to help raise awareness of the need for better cancer patient support.
"My cancer journey started when my right leg suddenly swelled up. At first the doctors thought it was thrombosis, and I ended up being bounced between my GP and the hospital as they tried to work out what was wrong with me.
Eventually I was found to have enlarged lymph nodes, which then led the doctors to find that I had ovarian cancer. When I was given the diagnosis I was so shocked that I was struggling to process anything around me. I just knew I had heard ‘the big C’ and I broke down.
This was a stage three cancer. It was in all of my lymph nodes and in my stomach. I was told that I would have to have a full hysterectomy and my ovaries and womb removed.
Obviously I was devastated with regard to the surgery and what it would mean. But I knew I had to concentrate on living, on being here to see my son grow up. That had to come first and that was what kept me going.
One of the hospitals I was treated in was just an awful place. I don’t know whether it was just down to how busy the staffs were, or simply due to people’s personalities, but I just felt completely unimportant. A hospital is where you go to feel better, but instead of being made to feel better, I was being made to feel like a burden.
The staff didn’t communicate and nobody seemed like they knew what had been done to me, or what should be done. Whenever I asked them questions or tried to get their attention I would feel dismissed.
There were occasions where I had to warn staff that they had already given me my medication. They were just about to give it to me again. They were lucky we noticed what they were doing. I also had staff to feed me even though I was ‘nil by mouth’.
I look back on it and realise, although it was horrible, I was lucky. I am outspoken and I have friends and family who were there supporting me, acting on my behalf. They helped to make sure that I wasn’t ignored or overlooked.
It was especially sad to see other patients, who didn’t have that support around them, being ignored. Cancer is a devastating and isolating thing and the way you are treated makes a huge difference. It is a mental battle as well as a physical one and being treated with dignity and compassion can make a huge difference to a patient’s life and experience."
Help us make cancer a priority this election. Find out how you can take part at www.timetochoose.org.uk
