Had to stop radiotherapy

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Things were going so well and I was counting down to getting my life back to some sort of normality and then went to see the out of hours GP and came home from hospital 3 days later.

I had been feeling unwell and sore, had a followup with surgical and was told that I should expect to have bad days for up to 18 months, came home feeling not listened to but got on with things. Had my first 2 rads and was quite glad to be getting on with things but even commented to them how sore I was and feeling unwell, when one of my scars started to swell I saw the out of hours doc who went me to see the oncall surgical team at the local hospital. They found an abscess using ultrasound but could not drain it all and my scar eventually burst open before they got me into theatre, they did a clean up job and sent me home on Tuesday without antibiotics, I felt so dodgy I gave up argueing. By Wednesday I felt so awful I had to ring my GP who was great and organised a prescription for antibiotics and had to go in the next day and get some more - Im still feeling pretty awful, I think due to all the infection and what it is doing to my system but am struggling to see the end of this at the moment. Its so frustrating that the rads have had to be put on hold and it will be weeks before they can restart.

Some days I just want to scream, im irritated that I wasnt listened to and am worried that the next follow up will be with the same doc, as I feel it will be a waste of time, Im also irritated that I wasnt given the antibiotics that could of avoided me feeling so awful now, and its not even the b***dy cancer!

There has been some good news, my parters MRI scan showed that his prostate cancer hasnt ruptured the prostate so he was given the choice of surgery or radiotherapy, he has chosen the radiotherapy, so we are now sharing an oncologist - thats quite strange really.

I suppose if I try and get some sleep I may have a better perspective on things in the morning

Anne

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Sleep always helps things look a bit better in the morning. If you can sleep!

Sounds like you have had a bit of a rough time of it recently. Cancer is bad enough without being left with the feeling that people aren’t listening to your concerns. Sometimes we have to kick up a bit of a fuss in order to be heard.

Hope you feel much better soon and get a good nights rest.

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They didn’t give antibiotics??! Heck, what were they thinking of, under those circumstances…

Ann x

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doesn’t sound like they WERE thinking Ann!!! Hope you managed to sleep, and feel a little better. Having the process dragged out even longer is just so… so… depressing… have a “gentle” hug…Jane

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Thanks everyone.

Im feeling much better this morning, almost human, have been to have my wound packed and dressed and she said it is much better than last time. Even managed a shower, well sort of without getting my underarm wet and feeling clean is such a tonic!

Anne

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Hi Anne

sorry to hear of all your problems and your unsupportive Onc.

If you are unhappy with your care you can get in touch wtb the patient liaison team at the hosp or contact PALS. You can also request to be seen by a different Onc. It’s hard to have faith in somebody again after they have ballsed up or when you feel unlistened to.

Hope that’s you on the mend now and good luck with the rads when you get them. Glad your feeling a bit better today x

Lxx

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Thanks, the doc was from the clinical team and I will be asking not to see him again, I have had little faith in him since he first told me my diagnosis, by drawing pictures of boobs and not getting to the point lol Its good I can laugh about it today, a sign I am feeling much better

Anne