Finally, a diagnosis!

On Day 119 of the 28 Day Faster Diagnosis Pathway,  we finally saw a consultant and got a definitive diagnosis. Sadly, despite having it in writing from the hospital twice in the last two months that DH is T3a, N1, it turns out actually that he's T4 with mets to bone, lymph and lung.No grading information was given.

He has now been referred to Oncology, although the consultant we saw on Monday could not tell us how long we would have to wait for that appointment. He also was not in a position to discuss with us possible treatment or prognosis, so after waiting since May for this diagnosis we still do not know where we are going.

It was a very strange appointment. It did not appear to be a clinic as such, because there was no one else waiting. We had been told previously one of the specialist nurses that this appointment would be for a definitive diagnosis and treatment plan and that one of the nurses team would be in attendance. There was no one there but us and the consultant. The appointment lasted no more than 10 minutes and we were back on the street again, only this time with life changing news.

We still do not have a designated specialist nurse and we have not been signposted to any support whatsoever, either within the hospital Trust or without.

So, we wait again for the next step, without having a single clue what it is, which is bad enough, but we are now in limbo between Urology and Oncology and have no point of contact.