Radiotherapy. This year, next year, sometime, never

Hello ansteynomad,

I'm very sorry to hear you're husband and you are still going through this confusing and frustrating situation after all this time. I have no idea why your husband is being treated like this, it makes no sense at all to me at all why there should be such a long delay in starting RT (but I'm not the doctor of course).

I would suggest you 'phone his specialist nurse as soon as you can and ask them what is happening and why has no treatment even been planned yet. Try to be polite but assertive and insist on either some immediate action to start RT as soon as possible now and, if this is not actioned, get an appointment to see his consultant to sort this out.

I do hope you can make progress quickly now.

Derek.

Hi ansteynomad , who is managing your DH’s case?  I think you need to see the plan.  If there isn’t one, I would move hospitals.  I agree with excavator , polite but firm approach.

I remembered after I'd posted this that when he saw a urologist this time last year, he was told he would need a TURP before radiotherapy, and that hasn't happened either.

There doesn't be any point in phoning the specialist nurse. He phoned her 3 weeks ago to report an A&E visit, left a message and she's not called him back yet.

Hello ansteynomad 

I didn't reply to your post yesterday as I was busy - knowing I would have time this morning. I have taken some time and read through all of your threads and posts today.

Clearly the hospital your husband is under has big issues (please don't name and shame them) your GP practice also is shambolic to say the least. 

I have advised you a couple of times what you need to do - nothing will happen unless you take matters into your own hands. You need to advocate for yourself and MAKE thing happen  - otherwise they will just drag on. Trust me I know this as in 2024 I had issues with my wife involving 12 weeks in hospital.

You need to sit down now and compose a letter/e-mail to your MP  - here's how to fid them

Find your MP

You need to go through the whole story from the start, use a timeline (see my profile for an idea how to do this) - the delays the lack of appointments, your anxiety and the issues at the hospital/GP practice. Tell them you need:

* A meeting with a named oncologist sooner than later.

* A detailed plan moving forward including dates for the TURP and Radiotherapy.

* The reasons behind the continued delays and lack of communication.

YOU can make this happen and your MP can help - it's time for action.

If I can help please do let me know.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi ansteynomad ,

I sympathise with DH and yourself, you seem to have been treated disgracefully by most of the NHS agencies in your area. Unfortunately this does seem to happen sometimes and the only way you will make things progress is by taking it all into your own hands. You need to be proactive, VERY firm but most of all calm and polite. Calling on the help of your local MP and making him/her aware of your situation in writing as soon as possible can only help your cause.

I was in a similar, but less serious, situation just over two years ago and a personal visit to my treatment centre where an eyeball to eyeball discussion solved my problems. Doing that politely and firmly worked wonders, hopefully you can achieve similar results.

You can read in my profile that it was ten months from the start of my HT to beginning RT and although the diagnostics leading up to starting HT had progressed reasonably quickly communication with the medics and their teams left quite a lot to be desired!