Much Aloha to all involved with this disease.
Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 6:33 pm
My sister was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer in July/August of this year. I can't remember exactly when. She told us that she had gall stones, but cancer was found and a stent was inserted.
She was scheduled first for chemotherapy and later for radiology treatments, but has not had ANY treatment yet. It is the middle of September already. I feel sorry for everyone and everyone who is involved with the National Health System. My sister lives in a highly populated area of Yorkshire, but has to travel miles and miles to the nearest treatment center. She is shuttled from Doctor to Doctor, and there doesn't seem to be a primary care doctor involved. She is very depressed right now, as the journey to the treatment center was very difficult for her as she has other medical problems, which make travelling very painful and uncomfortable, and no treatment was started. She was all pumped up and positive to start her treatment of radiology and chemo, but oh dear! nothing happened, except she was given another scan and told to wait for the result. According to her, appointments were mixed up and she was given the wrong information.
It is very difficult to hear her relate her problems and she has become very depressed right now and bemoans the system. I get frustrated for her. Last week, when I called her she was so looking forward to having treatment and had a very positive outlook.
Is this the normal way of doing things in the UK? I feel that for this cancer there is a certain level of urgency for treatment to start, which seems to be ignored in her case. I have lost a dear friend within six weeks of diagnosis of this type of cancer.
She also does not seem to be getting any counselling of any description to help her cope with this diagnosis. I want to be there to hold her hand, but I cannot as I live on the other side of the world. I phone her every weekend and just talk to her.
Thank you for having a place for me to vent. Much Aloha to you all.
She was scheduled first for chemotherapy and later for radiology treatments, but has not had ANY treatment yet. It is the middle of September already. I feel sorry for everyone and everyone who is involved with the National Health System. My sister lives in a highly populated area of Yorkshire, but has to travel miles and miles to the nearest treatment center. She is shuttled from Doctor to Doctor, and there doesn't seem to be a primary care doctor involved. She is very depressed right now, as the journey to the treatment center was very difficult for her as she has other medical problems, which make travelling very painful and uncomfortable, and no treatment was started. She was all pumped up and positive to start her treatment of radiology and chemo, but oh dear! nothing happened, except she was given another scan and told to wait for the result. According to her, appointments were mixed up and she was given the wrong information.
It is very difficult to hear her relate her problems and she has become very depressed right now and bemoans the system. I get frustrated for her. Last week, when I called her she was so looking forward to having treatment and had a very positive outlook.
Is this the normal way of doing things in the UK? I feel that for this cancer there is a certain level of urgency for treatment to start, which seems to be ignored in her case. I have lost a dear friend within six weeks of diagnosis of this type of cancer.
She also does not seem to be getting any counselling of any description to help her cope with this diagnosis. I want to be there to hold her hand, but I cannot as I live on the other side of the world. I phone her every weekend and just talk to her.
Thank you for having a place for me to vent. Much Aloha to you all.