Advice please

Hi Hawthorn  I think it varies and depends on the hospital policy, so you probably need to ring up to find out.  If you really need your husband with you make sure you explain it. 

Thank you oldady ,I’ll do that. I’m fine going on my own but my hubby would like to go. Xxx

Hi Hawthorn. Give your Oncologists' secretary a call and ask if your husband can attend. My last appointment my husband came with me but reception said it wasn't allowed so he went back to the car. I mentioned this to my Oncologist and he said he could've attended but by then hubby had gone back to the car park. So it's worth asking.

Don't forget, ask permission to record the consultation on your phone so if you miss/mishear anything you can be clear on what's what.

Big hugs, Barb xx

Hi Jean,  my hospital allows essential carers to attend but I think all hospitals are different. Does he realise that your pre op could take quite a while as there are often delays? I drove on my own to mine (except histology results - but Dave waited in the car practising his mandolin!) as I preferred to just deal with myself! Is it the oncologist you’re seeing or your gynae consultant? Just thinking as you’re pre-hysterectomy it might be your surgeon you’re seeing as the full treatment plan is usually post-hysterectomy when they have the histology back. Amanda 

Aww thanks for that Barbs,never thought about recording it. Jean xxx

Hi MarmiteFan59,I didn’t realise that a preop assessment would take so long, also when the nurse phoned me last Thursday with the scan results she mentioned the Doctor I would be seeing but never said if it was a surgeon or a oncologist I just thought oncologist. All the nurse  said was the Doctor will go through everything with you and if it was ok with me could they do the preop assessment while I’m there. I’ve been so stressed lately that some things just don’t register with me. Jean xxx

Hi Jean, bless you, how you’re feeling is totally understandable. It’s an emotional roller coaster from the start and frequently overwhelming. Sometimes I still feel like I’m free falling without a parachute and looking for things to hold onto to try and steady my mind. When I had my pre op it was a separate appointment and I was told to allow an hour and a half. There’s questions, blood test, swabs etc. It may be different at yours but it could take that long in total and there could be a wait between your consultation and your appointment.  Your consultation is likely to be a “meet your surgeon” appointment, ie Gynae consultant. He or she will explain the op, may mention whether open or trying for laparoscopic, may hint at treatment after.but may wait till histology results. Will probably say how long you will likely  be in and may ask you some of the same questions you’re asked at the pre op. And should give you a date. You may be given the chance to see a CNS after too. 

Hallo again Jean, two weeks after my hysterectomy I saw a Gynae registrar acting for my surgeon and was given the histology results from my hysterectomy. I had not been expecting to need further treatment so it was a bit of a shock to find my cancer had been restaged. I was told I’d receive an appointment to see my oncologist who would explain my treatment plan and that happened again about two weeks later. But up till that point it was Gynae consultant/surgeon. 

Thanks so much for all that information MarmiteFan,it has helped me so much. I just don’t have a clue. Hopefully after Friday I will have a much better understanding of what is going to be happening to me. Jean xxx

Hi Hawthorn,

It might depend on the area you are in. I was allowed to be at an oncologists appointment with my husband back in December when Covid precautions were in full swing. We had to take a lateral flow test with us, and were questioned at the door before being allowed in. We were down there last week for a check up with him. There were no sentries at the door. We just had to gel hands and get a mask. Nobody stopped us, which felt very bizarre. I would still check with your hospital but things have certainly eased here near Portsmouth.