What are cancer surgeons doing if not operating on cancer patients?

Good question! I assume it's all hands on deck and they are doing other things.  There must still be some emergency surgery they are carrying out. I read that plastic surgeons who operate privately are being asked to step in and do ear nose and throat surgery as part of the problem is that working in the hospital a lot of doctors have caught the virus even if they haven't been in direct contact. I really feel for the heart wrenching cancer cases you hear about where treatments been shelved. During pandemics history shows the death rises dramatically with people with other serious conditions. a&e have seen a dramatic drop in numbers attending because people have been told to stay away or they are scared that will catch it. It's a very sad state of affairs.

Hi All,

Just thought I'd throw in a good story here.

The Wednesday evening before Easter my husband (who has a speech valve) inadvertently swallowed it. He put a tube in because the hole closes up quickly,  and it would have meant a 3 month wait for a new one with no voice meantime!!

I rang the hospital on Thursday morning, and they said they could see him at 10am. They also said he would need a chest Xray to make sure the valve was not in the lungs. He said the hospital was very quiet, and he was stopped going in the only open door to see what he wanted. As he couldn't talk he was waved through. His valve was fitted, and chest Xray showed the chest was clear. He was instructed to use the hand gels frequently.

We were trying to avoid the hospital, but there was no option. I am just very grateful he was seen so quickly. Its comforting to know they are still sorting some people out. This is the first time this has happened in 13 years!!

We have many reasons to clap for the NHS on Thursdays, not just because of the virus.  xxx

Hi NannyAnny,

I can just imagine how worried & frightening it must have been for you both were when this happened, so it must have been a huge relief for your husband to be seen, and get the necessary treatment. As you say it is comforting to know that they are still seeing some people.

I will be going for a biopsy hopefully next week. The Oncologist told me that there are hardly any patients going in & out the hospital. It was my decision to go for the biopsy because as she pointed out they do not know how long this Covid-19 lock down will go on for. She did say that she was prepared for me to wait up to two months, but certainly not six months. The reason for the biopsy is to determine that the recurrence is in fact fallopian tube cancer and not endometrial and as there are different treatments.

Take care & stay safe both. Love Georgette.xx

Hi Georgette,

We've faced a lot scarier things  than him losing a speech valve!!! Once in the early days I found him having coughed up his feeding tube. He stood there holding yards of it!! I'm afraid I burst out laughing, then thought 'how can he feed?' Fortunately he could manage soup, so lived on that for a week or so.!!!

Good luck with your scan. xxxxx 

Hi there, I have just spent 4 nights in hospital as I now have blood clots on both of my lungs, a struggle to breathe is an understatement. Anyway logged on and read this post, 5 mins later a Consultant came to see me, we discussed my options for survival if it was found I had Corona Virus, and had to make a decision about how I wanted to die (grim conversation) however I then went on to say what you had asked, this was his reply. All Surgeons are either working mainly out of private hospitals (clean sites) for urgent surgery, most others have been deployed across the NHS. I was tested for the virus but was negative both times thank goodness, I was on a ward with 11 patients (all in side rooms) that had the virus or were showing strong signs, it was very well organised and I had no contact at all with other patients. So no I don't believe that these highly skilled surgeons have time on their hands, gone back to the basics I think. I know that at the hospital here most chemo and cancer treatments have been cancelled, which must be so worrying for people on the start of this awful journey.

Love to all

LC

XX

Aww , I hope you can breath a bit better soon. Looks like your being well looked after. So I hope these blood clots can be sorted out to make you more comfortable.

Sending you a big and gentle hug

Hi Little Critter,

Hope you feel better, soon. XXXXX

Hello LC, Im very sorry to hear you’re in hospital. I hope they can get the blood clots sorted and that you’ll be able to breathe more easily. Awful that you had to have that grim conversation too. I hope you feel better soon. Gentle hugs and prayers x

My thoughts and prayers are with you little critter and I hope you will find some relief soon and be able to breathe again more easily soon. What a horrible conversation for you..still just reflects the terrible times we are going through at the moment I suppose. So glad your covid test came back negative though. You don't want that on top of everything you are going through at the moment! Anyway,  hope you improve soon and feel better. Tell all those doctors and nurses what an excellent job they are doing from all of us please. God bless. Love lamb.xx 

Hi Little Critter hope you get well soon xxDawn