Mum was diagnosed with bladder cancer in June 2020. She had the tumours removed followed by a 6 week course of radiotherapy (1 blast per wk). We were warned that by weeks 4/5 & 6 that she would be extremely poorly and probably need someone to stay with her. Mum asked at that consultation, before radiotherapy started “ how will you know if they’ve grown back”? The consultant said “ you’d start to feel unwell again! Mum breezed through the op to remove tumours and the 6 weeks course of radiotherapy. Then In Sept, she started struggling to pee so her Dr prescribed antibiotics. No sooner did she finish one course, she was given another, and another and so it goes on till this day! The not-peeing was getting worse. She was up through the night 8-12 times struggling to pee and in absolute agony, to the degree she was nearly passing out and laying on the bathroom floor but still the Dr just gave antibiotics. I got her to a hospital and they drained over 2 and half pints of urine. No wonder she was in agony, and inserted a permanent catheter which is giving her relief.
In Jan 2021, mum got a stabbing pain in her back and taken to hospital with suspected blood clot on her lung. 6 hrs later she was told the cancer had spread to her lungs. Her Dr told us it was highly unlikely it had spread from her bladder to her lungs yet another consultant said that’s where it had come from! This is what I loath, when one tells you one thing and another says the opposite! I put this here because we are experiencing this a lot now
Fast forward to Fri 12th Feb. A tele consultation with her Dr to ask why mum isn’t being given a single solitary thing to combat the cancer in her lungs (diagnosed 5 was ago) or check if the cancer in her bladder has got worse. He told us they can’t offer anything to treat the cancer in her lungs as it could make her feel worse and they have to weigh up the benefits of quality of life over quantity of life. And went on to say the reason she can’t pee is probably due to tumours in her bladder blocking her urinary tract (but no offer to do another scan).
I cannot accept that my poor mum has basically been told to sit at home and let these cancers ravage her body. She’s not on fast track palliative care for end of life so I want a second opinion. Why wouldn’t they do 3 monthly scans to check on mums bladder cancer?! Is this normal? And why is my poor mum not being offered anything to help stem the cancers? Her best friend has cancer much worse than mum, same age and she’s getting lots of treatment.
I cannot accept no offer of treatment for mum, she even asked if he could give her something to help boost her energy levels as she feels tired a lot, but he couldn’t suggest anything. I’m beginning to wonder if he’s actually medically trained! Surely there’s something she can take!
Mum feels totally let down right now. If she had COVID she would be given more attention than what she is right now. Cancer is Cancer is Cancer, regardless of age and stage... she’s my mum,,, she might just be a name and NHS number to others but she’s my mum... and deserves a right to help fight this... right now, that’s been denied.
Has anyone else been given regular check ups after bladder surgery or radiotherapy or is this normal practice to be left... because in my opinion of mums experience to be told “we’ll know if it’s grown back when you start to feel unwell again” is too late!!!!
So sorry you are both going through this ...I have just had turbt operation and go back on Tuesday to see consultant and find our result of biopsy taken ..please get in touch with hospital tomorrow 
here must be something that can be done ..with covid here so much other illnesses are not being dealt with as they should ..please stay strong and just keep supporting your lovely mother as best you
can xx hope you get some positive answers tomorrow thinking about you take care xx
Take care xx thank you for your concern 
we need all the help and advice we can have during these times don't we? I really hope your mother is not in a lot of pain now xx hopefully something will be sorted out for you both and you can go forward with best treatment and meditation xx take care xx
