Hi All.
I'm just about ready to throw in the towel. My journey started around 4 years ago when it became difficult to swallow. After tests it was decided to explore abit more under anesectic. When I awoke they'd taken a part of my tongue which was unexpected, I never knew why or the results, I never asked, I couldn't wait to get away. I learned to live with the discomfort in my throat until I noticed a lump which got bigger over time. Finally I took my self to the GP and from there things moved pretty quickly, I had thyroid Cancer. TT was Dec 2017. I've never felt well since, I've become agraphobic, depression is a issue and although I eat small, was a size 8, the weight keeps piling on. About 6 months after TT and blood tests my oncologist called me one evening to say it was urgent he sees me first thing in the morning. Along I went, only for him th "feel" my neck and say " your bloods were sky high, but I think you'll settle down. A year on I ended up in hospital were they found a mass across my chest and in right lung. A biopsy was done on the chest only which came back as stage 4 metastatic follicular thyroid carcinoma with mediastinal lymphadenopathy. It was assumed the lung to be the same. This all was March of last year, the only treatment I've had is doubling my thyroxin meds and I've deteriorated. 6weeks ago they decided to biopsy the lung which proved to be stage 2 lung cancer ( unrelated ) I was sent to another hospital for SBRT treatment as "Urgent". In my opinion the doctor wasn't interested he told me they had a backlog and he'd been messaging my team to get them to treat first but the insistence is with the lung. I know why, it's because the Thyroid Cancer isn't curable and I've a long road ahead were as the lung is so they want that out of the way first to concentrate on the rest. This all seems such a long time, every month I see the Thyroid oncologist who says " it's grown slightly, another nodes involved, blah, blah, blah". The pain is becoming unbearable, my chest feels fit to burst, it feels like there's no room for my organs to pump properly, I've this crushing feeling 24/7. The slightest exertion whacks me out. This isn't living. Any advise greatly appreciated.
Hi and sorry to welcome you to the Community.
A lot has happened in your 4 years. I often look back over my many years on my cancer journey and wonder how on earth I keep going..... but there was no other option.
I only have my own cancer journey to look back on and did come to understand the importance and need to get my pointy elbows into the doors of my consultants.... my team were great but when I was in very very bad pain as they did need to be pushed a number of times to get things back on track.
My GP was great and I found him to be a great advocate for me with my consultants as he was the one seeing me the most and dealing with all the pain meds that I required.
You do need to get in their faces and fight for your case to be dealt with quickly.
You could talk with your local NHS PALS office to see if they can help.
Can I also highly recommend our various Macmillan Support Line Services - you can call them free on 0808 808 00 00 This service covers Emotional Support, Practical Information. Clinical Information, Financial Support and Work Guidance mostly open 8.00 to 8.00 but check the link.
We also have our ‘Ask an Expert’. section where you can post questions to our mostly Volunteer Experts but please allow 2 working days to get a reply.
(hugs))
Thanks for the kind words and advise Mike. 
I know it’s not much but at least you understand that you are the only one that has had to navigate through this NHS system ((hugs))
