Lung cancer and now terminal

Hi Miss CJ, it seems to be a mixed bag at the minute and perhaps dependant on each NHS trusts individual arrangements through the pandemic.  With my dad, who was diagnosed back in August 2020 every important meeting has taken place face to face and follow-ups with the oncologist have been phone calls which has been great actually as its meant Dad hasnt had to treck up and back to the hospital which exhausts him completely.  My dads wife however was diagnosed in December and got a phone call to say she had lung cancer which was NOT ok in my opinion.  Dads tests and scans and treatment all happened quickly with great coordination but there has been lots of chasing up/following up with his wifes plan post diagnosis even though its all through the same hospital but different cancer teams so Ive almost contradicted what I said in my first sentence.  This has been our experience this far.  Have you suggested a face to face instead of a phone call because they may be able to accommodate that for you perhaps?  Good luck with everything x x 

Thankyou for your reply. Everyones differing experiences of this are interesting, but i do feel overall that a face to face is far better than an unpersonal phone call, leaving us both with, well what now? We were given no indication  yesterday to consult with a mcmillan nurse either, no guidance on what to do next. Simply to " Book a blood test now!

Good luck to you with dads and his wifes treatment 

that's a really good point actually about the blood tests, many were sat waiting at their chemo sessions because they didn't know they needed to have had a blood test before treatment which delays the day by around 2hours and its a long day as it is.  I managed to get Dads bloods taken at home every Friday before his treatment on the Monday she it saved him having to get out to the Dr for the appointment which was really great.xx

Hi MissCJ, I believe that is terrible, to be informed by a phone call, when I am sure perspex screening could have been done for the oncologist, When I was diagnosed after an Xray then a  CT scan last March, I did see an oncologist for about ten minutes who confirmed I had lung cancer, then later saw a Radiation Oncologist, who told me I was inoperable, in April, since then I have had three face to face meetings, one at the end of Radiation treatment, another when I got Radiation Pnumonitisis, and a follow up three months later, I made an appointment for a telephone consultation with my doctor who I have had for 18 years in, September 2020 he was not even aware I had lung cancer, even though he has had all the paperwork through, unbelievable, my Doctors surgery do not answer the phone, so have to go down and knock on the window to even get a repeat prescription, shop workers have had to see far more people everyday at the check outs and in store, the provisions they have are just perspex, with doctors they could have had perspex ventilated boxes made if they had actually wanted to see patients, no there is no excuse, as far as I can see, radiation technicians have had to see patients for Radiation treatments, My GP is still shut have not seen my doctor for a year now, not that I really want to after he was not even aware I had lung cancer, still have to nock on the window to ask them anything, it is not good enough in your case my sympathies are with you. 

Im so sorry your partners doctors are letting you both down. Its not good enough. My husband was diagnosed with incurable nscl last April.

He has had chemo and radio which shrunk the tumour significantly. He remained symptom free until 2 months ago. His cough and breathlessness are back and he is awaiting a liquid biopsy on a lesion found in a inaccessible place in his liver. Bloods sent to the states at no cost as free for research purposes. Expect results next week.

My husband is 73 and has had first class care and we have had face to face oncologist appointments throughout. We live in Scotland.

You could call your partners oncologists secretary and ask for a face to face appointment. 

PS, sorry for rambling on. Good luck.