My cancer worries

Hi Swarfy

Thanks for contacting Macmillan Cancer Support and welcome to the online community.

I’m sorry to read of your recent diagnosis of oesophageal cancer.

The feeling of uncertainty and of the unknown can be frightening.

There are waiting time targets to start treatment.

In England, Scotland and Northern Ireland the current targets are:

• no more than 2 months (62 days) wait between the date the hospital receives an urgent referral for suspected cancer and the start of treatment
• no more than 31 days wait between the meeting at which you and your doctor agree the treatment plan and the start of treatment

While you’re waiting on chatting with the oncologist it may be helpful to understand more about how the Consultant will make any treatment decisions for you and what information about you they will use, to do so. The consultant will look at many factors to guide their treatment decisions. Factors such as:

• The type of cancer, size of the cancer, and where the cancer is 
• The stage and grade of the cancer
• The patients age, overall health, and personal needs

However, it sounds like they have decided that you require having something called neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Which is a course of chemotherapy that the Oncologist typically uses ahead of surgery. This treatment helps shrink cancerous tumours to make them easier to remove and may also kill cancerous tissue that may or not be present elsewhere in your body.

It’s important to let your treatment team know about any concerns you may have, both emotionally and physically. This is so they can give you the best possible support.

Unfortunately, Macmillan Cancer Support are not directly part of the NHS so have no access to patients records that would allow us to offer you more direct information about your individual timescales for starting treatment.

We suggest you chat this through further with your team at the next appointment.

We have a supportive oesophageal group. Support from others going through similar experiences can make such a difference to you at this difficult time.

There is also an online support site called the Oesophageal Patients Association (OPA) that offers amazing support, friendship and advice to patients and loved ones living with oesophageal cancer.

As well as the online support at Macmillan, Maggie’s also offer some emotional advice and online courses that can help anyone affected with cancer.

We are offering free one-on-one counselling with a qualified Bupa therapist, who has been trained in supporting people living with cancer. Do you think this is something you would be interested in? If so, then please don’t hesitate to get back in touch.

If you’d like to talk things through a little more, please don’t hesitate to contact our nurses on the support line. We are always happy to take the time to talk over any worries or concerns you are having.

Best wishes,

Annemarie (Cancer Information Nurse Specialist)

You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email.

Our ref: AKR / KG

Hi Anne Marie  my wife thinks the one to one counciling may be a good idea maybe  we could try and organise something  ?

Regards mick

Hi Swarfy

Thanks for getting back in touch. My name is Penelope and I am one of the other Cancer Information Nurse Specialists.

Our free specialist counselling is available to the person with the cancer diagnosis. You can give us a ring on the Macmillan Support Line to set up a counselling referral with our partner organisation BUPA. We are available 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm on 0808 808 0000.

To request a counselling referral, when phoning Macmillan select option 1 for the support line and then option 1 again for ‘General Cancer Information and Emotional Support’.

Alternative sources of counselling may be available via your GP or local cancer support organisations. You can search for services in your area here.

Hopefully this provides all the information that you need to access the counselling that Annemarie mentioned. If you need further information, please do give us a call on the support line.

Best wishes

Penelope, Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email. 

Ref/ DT