Delayed op advice

Heya Robe, 

It's probably not much consolation, but at the stage your Mum is at there is absolutely no need to rush, from a medical point of view. 

Consultants only do paperwork once a week, and phonecalls once a week. And they'll work through their piles from oldest to newest. So it'll depend on how busy they are and how far behind they are with paperwork etc as to when they'll look at her results, then dictate a letter, then dictate an appointment request. Those will then go to their secretary, who is normally the secretary for at least 2 consultants to type up and send out. 

So you can easily be looking at a month or two before things will come through updating you on the next step. And the op date will depend on how busy the theatres are, and because she won't be classed as urgent, they won't bump anyone out of the way for her.

So I'm afraid it's a case of patience, trying to get a hold of those nurses to see if they can do anything, and distraction to get through the wait. 

Good luck! 

Lass

Xx

Hi RobeH, when I was diagnosed with grade 1 womb cancer (the least aggressive grade) my consultant told me about a patient he had had previously who had heart problems and whose hysterectomy had to be delayed for a whole year whilst they got her heart condition stabilised.  In that time her cancer was still contained within the womb and therefore was cured by the surgery, in spite of the delay.  I tell you this to illustrate that we sometimes imagine cancer as growing rapidly bigger and bigger  by the day, t the reality is different and he used the word 'indolent' meaning lazy to describe a grade one cancer.

That said I still think that it's perfectly reasonable of you to expect things to keep moving forward for your mum.  As lass says, they tend to have their meetings and make decisions on a weekly basis and when you are anxiously a week is a long time!   It is very disappointing that the two contact nurses you have been given are not responding to your messages.  I wonder if you have been given an email address for the nurses or your consultant which you could use to express your worries.  Or perhaps ring the consultants secretary to find out when you are likely to hear something and if there is anyone who can give you more information.  After three weeks you should have heard something, even allowing for summer holidays etc.  If all else fails you could contact the patient advice and liaison service (PALS) at your hospital.  They will liaise on your mum's behalf.  You may be put through to an answer phone if you telephone them because their office will not be permanently manned, but you should get a response.  They are not just there for complaints but also to help keep communications flowing too.  

I hope things get moving soon.  Waiting for results and for things to happen is definitely the worst part of the cancer journey.  Once there is a treatment plan you and your mum will feel more settled.  

Xxx