My wife has been diagnosed with secondary triple negative breast cancer with mets in both lungs.She has been put forward for a clinical trial but unfortunately the oncology unit at our hospital in Sussex does not fill us with any confidence! Firstly she was due to have a bone scan which has never materialised despite several reminder phonecalls,the trial paperwork,to help us make a decision has not turned up again despite reminders and a further CT scan has been forgotten as well.The department is never available for comment and no left messages are ever returned.Is it possible to change hospitals ? Has anybody used the New Marsden at Sutton in Surrey ? I would be grateful for any information anybody can give.Best Wishes to you all.
HI Husband, there is a thread just above yours this morning which has some ideas on about changing hosp. So sorry you’ve not had a good service to date, bw Nicola
I was also dissatisfied with my treatment is Sussex and changed without too much difficulty (although still go back to my local hospital for other things). Before changing you need to make sure you’re not jumping out of the frying pan into the fire - so before asking for a change, you have got to do your research to identify a hospital that will provide the sort of approach you would like. Also you need to make sure that the Oncologist who could take over your care is right for you (because sometimes things sound great on paper, but are not in reality), so again, before asking for a change, ask for a second opinion with the Oncologist you have identified. Then if you like him/her you can then ask if they would to take on your case.
If you’re unable to do your own research, ask your GP to refer you elsewhere, explaining the type of treatment approach you would like. Generally speaking they know who does what, so hopefully they will help. They are not obliged to refer you elsewhere, but few doctors want to treat a patient who has no confidence in them.
I’m now treated at Charing Cross Hospital, and they have been excellent - but it’s a bit of a journey up to London, and I believe the Marsden in Sutton has a very good reputation.
The Marsden is a specialist cancer hospital (at the moment) so you might find it suits your needs better. Your GP might be able to help get you referred to a different hospital, and again the BCC helpline might be able to give you some practical advice on the most straightforward way to go about changing.
Hi
I had a slightly different senario; but I found my Onc department wouldn’t return messages and BCN was hitting head against brick wall. I was trying to chase up start of radiotherapy treatment as it was taking too long.
Anyway I wrote & complained & sent copy to GP. A couple of days later I had telephone calls from both GP who chased up & senior Onc who apologised and explained what was going on.
A couple of weeks later planning had been sorted & rads have now been completed.
Have you tried the Pals Network based in the hospital they are independant & can follow uo your concerns. They may even have contacts in other hospitals to advise on treatment in them.
Good Luck
Lynne
I am being treated at the Royal Surrey and cannot fault it. I’m interested to know which hospital it is as i had a choice of hospitals when booking my mammogram having been referred by the gp. There are a few i wouldn’t set foot in. Interestingly enough although their treatment has been brilliant, they’ve hardly communicated anything to my gp. I was diagnosed Feb 17th the letter was typed on 18th March. Pretty bad considering i’d had an operation and follow up appointment and they’d told me what type of cancer i had.
I only found this out when i went to the gp last week for a blood test for something different. I asked the secretary what letters they’d received from Royal Surrey and the only one they had was the one that I had a copy of. No wonder the gp was looking at me as if i was making the whole darn thing up when i wanted a repeat prescription for tamoxifen.
Hi Husband,
I’m being treated at the Royal Marsden in Sutton and I am really happy with the treatment I am receiving there. I don’t see the same doctor when I have my clinic appointments but I am happy with that for now and the different doctors I have seen have all been very nice and up to date with my progress/treatment. Getting appointments for scans is never a problem. Today I was told I needed a heart scan and was given the referral by my onc. I then took this to the nuclear medicine myself to request an appointment. There is some reassurance with this as I know for sure that the referral has been made.
I hope you make the right decision for both yourr wife and yourself.
Lisa
Hello all.Thanks for all your comments and support,it is appreciated.I am pleased to say that we have been successfully refered to the Royal Marsden for at least a second opinion but i have been told that they may take on my wife’s case if we want.I understand that the Marsden is a world centre of excellence for the treatment of cancer (according to my wife’s GP).After just a couple of phonecalls,they seem far more efficient than our local hospital;even the secretarys seem to have quite a good knowledge of problems and treatments,so lets hope.Best wishes to you all.
Hi husband
I have sent you a private message.
Tina x
That is great news - well done. finty x
Brilliant news. I’m certain you have done the right thing.