Hi, I’m new here but have been reading posts over the last few weeks.
My dad has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer nearly 4 weeks ago. We live in the Channel Islands so treatment takes place in the UK. We speak to specialists and GPs on island who are trying to arrange and communicate with Southampton hospital.
A month has gone by and he has not been seen to. Nor do we have feedback if anyone has even picked up his file and CT scans to progress forward.
Hearing the diagnosis was awful enough, my dad has been ill since maybe April this year and they were unable to find the issue until end-August. With no news I’m worried he is loosing incredibly valuable time needed to help him or provide any hope. I’m aware pancreatic is particularly difficult and usually symptom come at later stages.
Im terrified, my family are unsure what to do, they are advised not to go private but I’m unsure why.
Is this what I have to come? Weeks between treatment, or no news, it doesn’t seem right or acceptable to me.
Thank you to other new members for writing in these groups, it helps to know I/we are not alone and everyone seems to have their own story and journey through treatment.
Do I fly over to Southampton for a day and bang on doors and demand a doctor? Is my dad just another person being diagnosed and added to the pile of the doctors workload?
Im so lost and don’t know what this horrible illness is about to do to my dad and the effect it is about to have on my family. But waiting doesn’t feel like the right choice.
Any advice in response to my little rant is appreciated
Thank you
Hi 87JS and welcome to the online community
I'm sorry to hear that your dad has recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and I do understand how frustrating waiting for tests and treatment to begin can be.
I don't know what the normal timescale is between diagnosing pancreatic cancer and treatment to begin as I didn't have that type of cancer. However, I think you might be more likely to get the sort of information you're after if you post this in the pancreatic cancer group, which I see you're a member of.
Clicking on the link I've created will take you to that group if you're not sure how to get there.
When you have a minute it would be really useful if could pop something about your dad's journey so far into your profile as it helps others when answering or looking for someone with a similar diagnosis. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Edit Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.
x
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
