Waiting time

Hi caz,  I have similar frustrations. 3months of doctors unwilling to give me an appointment, 'it's just piles'. Finally sent them a photo of the amount of bloodo in my stool. Three weeks before a colonoscopy, three more weeks for scans(MRI and CT) and then three weeks to see the oncologist. Things finally started to get moving with a week of radiotherapy but then the only contact I've had since was an email from the nurse to ask if I had problems. Was told I would have another MRI six weeks later but when I asked why I hadn't heard anything was told oh, don't worry it could be eight weeks. I have one booked now which made me feel better but goodness knows when I'll see the oncologist. The CT scan showed something unusual in the lungs which they wanted to check out. Had various tests and a letter in September saying I would be getting another scan at the end of October. Didn't happen and when I queried it was told 'nothing has been booked yet as we are overwhelmed with urgent cases'. So the rectal cancer does not make my potential lung nodules urgent enough?. I just feel like I don't know what is going on. I feel quite despairing when I read on here that people are rushed through quite quickly and seem to be given much more information . A neighbour with a different type of cancer went from a urgent doctor appointment to surgery in less than 5 weeks.

I get that the doctors and nurses are crazily busy but I hate feeling left behind. I'm not sure that there's anything we can do though... Here's hoping that they know what they're doing and all will be revealed soon.

Fingers crossed x

That's awful. What I've learned (but too late) is that unless you chase and chase they will just let the cancer spread as they just seem to forget to follow up.   Are you a middle aged female by any chance ?  I'm being cynical perhaps but the rushed through cases seem to be men.  I may be being unfair to the medical machine but my mind is all over the place trying to work out why some of us just dont matter. 

Hi Caz999

I’m so sorry to read what you are going through.

I thought that cancer had the two week rule. Between each of my appointments it was pretty much two/ three weeks.

When I asked at the BRI if they’d been stopped when Covid started they said that they’d worked pretty much through. However their ward was given to Covid and the Bowel operations were sharing the cardiac unit so when you think about it their bed capabilities were halved.
Maybe a good idea to ask an expert here.

Sending you a virtual hug 

Thanks. I don't think it's really covid related. About 10 people have just simply forgotten to do things. They forgot to follow up with a colonoscopy last year when I was admitted to hospital. 12 months later after going into hospital with exact same symptoms they forgot to refer me to a specialist bowel nurse who apparently should have visited me during my 2 weeks in hospital. They forgot to immediately refer me to oncology after surgery. They forgot to contact me in the 6 weeks post surgery to tell me I had cancer so I was left thinking I was cancer free.

And all this time those staff who looked at my histology knew I had cancer in my lymph nodes but still no rush. My chemo is planned in for 13 weeks after surgery. And all they can say is its just incredibly bad luck that all the different people didn't do the follow up correctly.

I think that’s a bit much Caz999 and I cut the NHS a lot of slack !

You have been very patient waiting to hear ! You can get PALS to make enquiries for you and raise your concern !

The staff certainly should not hold it against you ! Hope that is the case ! You can also phone our helpline staff 0808 808 0000.

You do have to trust the team treating you when it comes to a condition like cancer ! Some people change hospitals . Others persist but you could certainly let your team know it’s causing concern and seems to be longer than other neighbouring health boards !

Take care ,

Court 

Hi Caz,

Sorry you seem to have been messed around, but I'd wait until you are finished with the hospital before you complain. I was once visiting my husband in hospital and overheard the nurses telling each other that a patient was bringing a case against the hospital. None of them would answer the bell that he was ringing!!