Cambridge?

Hello , I’ve just popped in from my usual cancer group Melanoma as I’m treated in Cambridge, I think managing the expectations of others is a really hard thing when you’ve just been diagnosed. I found I needed to deal with one thing at a time and often when I spoke to others they had far more questions than I had thought of and I sometimes felt silly not knowing. I’ve been going to the Addenbrookes oncology bit for 4 years plus, and Cambridge University Hospital Trust is such a big integrated place. I had surgery in the treatment centre near the Rosie part, and had one of the gynaecologist surgeons do the removal of a node in my groin, he was lovely. Oncology gets so busy just lately some of my follow appointments are in a clinic nearby. I have immunotherapy treatment every 3 weeks in the day unit often called the chemo suite near the oncology reception and although I’ve never had radiotherapy the waiting area for that is close by. I am therefore wondering if the question where are you being treated is perhaps a way of asking indirectly what’s happening to you at the moment, and waiting is one of the hardest parts about this journey.

When you letter comes it will say exactly where you have to go and the hospital has volunteers in all the sections to direct anyone who asks or looks lost. There are also maps available at the information points or on line.It’s only a walk along a corridor from the Rosie to Addenbrookes oncology part where there’s a Macmillan information and support booth with lots of leaflets and helpful Macmillan volunteers to talk to. There’s also a Maggies centre on the campus where you can grab a free coffee and have an informal chat or about anything that’s worrying you, they also have some sessions to help with emotions and recovery. 

It wont be long until your letter comes or until (I hope) someone with your cancer who’s treated in Cambridge comes along. I think I’d answer that Addenbrookes and The Rosie are all part of Cambridge University Hospital Trust and that you will probably have to go to different parts and different times and your waiting for your first letter. You could pop down to the Maggies Centre ahead of time as sometimes pre doing the journey can take some of the anxiety away.

I thought I’d put in some links that might be helpful for you.

https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/gynaecological-oncology

https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/finding-us/maps

https://www.maggiescentres.org/our-centres/maggies-wallace-cambridge/

I hope some of this helps. 

Thank you so much for all that info, you're a star!

My biggest reason for asking/wondering where I'll be treated, is because so far I've been at the Rosie due to it being gynaecological investigations. It has been hard going there, surrounded by happy pregnant women and new babies and on my results day it was just torture walking through all of that to get out of the building. 

I can't imagine having to keep going back there. It's just not fair. And I think that's the first time I've used that phrase! But my heart feels so heavy :-( 

Sorry, I try to be upbeat for my husband and family...do I have to here?

Hi , no you don’t have to be upbeat here, use it to express when you are feeling down, however we will want to give you a virtual hug and tell you we know how you feel, and some will be able to tell you it gets better and will know because they’ve been there not just hoping it to be so, or tell you straight it may not as it didn’t for them !! 

I understand better now, when I was in my 20’s (so a long time ago) I had two miscarriages and was as you say in a gynaeward and it was hard when you have happy people all around you and for me people who were still pregnant and looking forward to what lay ahead. 

The oncology waiting area hardly ever has kids around but as it has people going before or during treatment and when in remission it’s a real world mix of grumpy and happy people !! I go on a Wednesday for melanoma and on a Friday for treatment every third week, I can see that different clinics have different days. There’s a big screen that tells you if the clinics are running late and I’ve noticed that there are 3 different cancers on my days but I haven’t paid enough attention to be able to help you. 

It brings yet another piece of anxiety to the table doesn’t it to make it harder to remain upbeat about things. I always try and do something after my visits to give me something else to concentrate on. It’s 35 miles for me to travel to Addenbrookes so I sometimes visit Wimpole Hall as I have to pass it and sometimes Anglesey Abbey as it’s only 20 mins away. Trumpington Meadow and Granchester village have also been a place for my husband and I to have a walk and I have found the best chips ever in one of the pubs/Inns near the Trumpington War Memorial. If you do have to put up with an unpleasant visit it always helps to have something to look forward to aswell. 

Best wishes

Hi JoJoo,

I know how you feel. I was in my 20's, and after a late miscarriage had to have a D and C. In those days I was lying on a trolley to go into theatre, and someone came out having had a termination. I've remembered that for 50 years!!!! I did eventually have children, but at the time couldn't face being with anyone else's. Hopefully time will be a healer for you. XXXXXx