How long is everyone waiting for scans?
I finished my chemo last September and Radiotherapy beginning of November
I expected to have a scan at the end of treatment to see if treatment had helped
Oncologist however is refusing to consider doing any scans till at least May of this year
I don’t feel that I can wait that long. Not only have I had enough of people asking me when my scans are happening I cant stop worrying
Both me and my husband have asked for earlier scans but she is not budging
The worry of it all is building up so much. Have spent most of the last few days crying. Doctor has prescribed anti depressants to see if that will help
Feel like I am banging my head against a brick wall. Have thought of getting a second opinion but the other oncologist at my hospital is totally over ruled by my one so that would be no good.
Sorry just needed to get it all of my chest i guess.Hate feeling so low, Hate the fact I can’t stop crying.I cry over the slightest things. Its as if this past year since diagnose has finally come round and slapped me in the face. I cant cope with the thought i will not see my little boy grow up or grow old with my hubby
i hate hate hate cancer and what it does to people
Jools
Dear Jools
I am sorry to read that you are feeling so low, I wondered if you had heard about our telephone support group developed specifically for people with secondary breast cancer? The aim of the group is to give you the opportunity to talk privately and confidentially to other people around the UK with similar experiences, many of our previous group members said they’d been able to openly talk about things they couldn’t discuss with friends and family because they felt pressured to ‘be brave’ and not upset the people they were close to. For more information about this and other support we can offer you telephone: 0808 800 6000 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and Sat 9am-2pm or:
email: <script type=“text/javascript”>eval(unescape(‘%64%6f%63%75%6d%65%6e%74%2e%77%72%69%74%65%28%27%3c%61%20%68%72%65%66%3d%22%6d%61%69%6c%74%6f%3a%74%65%6c%65%70%68%6f%6e%65%73%75%70%70%6f%72%74%67%72%6f%75%70%73%40%62%72%65%61%73%74%63%61%6e%63%65%72%63%61%72%65%2e%6f%72%67%2e%75%6b%22%3e%74%65%6c%65%70%68%6f%6e%65%73%75%70%70%6f%72%74%67%72%6f%75%70%73%40%62%72%65%61%73%74%63%61%6e%63%65%72%63%61%72%65%2e%6f%72%67%2e%75%6b%3c%2f%61%3e%27%29%3b’))</script>
Hope this helps
Best Wishes
Lucy
Hi Jools
So sorry you are feeling so low and i think it is appalling that your onc will not give you any scans, especially knowing how worrying it can be, and to help put your mind at rest etc. Can you not travel further afield and get another onc, or get second opinion privately? Sorry not really much help am I.
I finished my chemo on 21st November (had 3 x FEC and 3 x Taxotere, and got liver mets too), and my onc gave me another ct scan on my liver on 3 December. I also had an ultrasound on boobs after 3rd FEC I think it was. I did keep asking him when i would get them, as I will when i see him again on 13 Feb, as now on Herceptin and have had 2 so far.
It is such an emotional rollercoaster anyway all this crap, and to put you through all this is just awful, and I am not surprised that you are very tearful right now. So tough with the little ones too, as can so relate to that too, with mine both under 4. Wish there was something more helpful I can say to you.
Hopefully someone with lots more information and advice will help you. Can you not maybe speak to macmillan nurse or your bcc nurse? Just a thought. I do hope you manage to sort something out.
Sending you so much love and lots of hugs.
Love
Dawn
xx
Hi Jools,
It is not surprising you are upset and crying - you have had an awful lot of distressing things to cope with in the last 8 months.
I found that the end of treatment was a particularly bad time for me and I did become very anxious and depressed. I had counselling which was great but have also been on antidepressants on and off. I found the combination of the two really beneficial and the treatment did really help me to put things into perspective. In Central Lancashire, we are lucky to have both a Cancerhelp support Centre, Vine House who provide counselling and support and the NHS trust now have a full time psycholgist attached to the oncology department who is also able to counsel patients and relatives.
My daughter was only 5 when I was initially diagnosed in 1990 so I can understand your worries about your child’s future. I thought I would never see my daughter grow up, let alone go to university. She is 23 now and due to get her degree in June, so keep your fingers crossed for me. Treatment has greatly improved in the past few years and even
though I’ve had recurrences and a diagnosis of secondaries, I still remain reasonably well. So what I’m trying to say I think, is that all is not lost even if you do get a further diagnosis.
In my area, apart from the yearly mammogram, the doctors only arrange scans if you present with a problem which could be indicative of a further cancer. The scans are then arranged pretty quickly.
I hope you are feeling better soon. The antidepressants may take a few weeks to work but can be very effective in helping you get through this awful time.
Keep posting. This site is great.
Take care.
Wendy x
Hi Jools,
Heck, it sounds as if you are not being treated with much compassion. I think you should give the helpline a call they will help you sort your thinking out and work through this. I do hope my suggestions do not worry you even more but I give them based on person experience so here goes.
Has the onc given sound reasons for the delay in the scan? I think you should talk to the breast care nurse and your Gp to build up some questions to ask the ONC. When asking the questions have them written down, take someone with you to write down the answers. I would also suggest you write to the Hospital Trust with your concerns and ask their policy on scanning times for cancer patients. I suggest this because I have found from personal experience being proactive and going over the consultants heads does get you noticed. I have never asked for preferential treatment just that treatment I am entitled to. You may not get the answer you want but you should get an answer as to why they are taking the stance they are. Believe you me the are very careful in how they approach proactive people, I think they are worried about litigation.
The cynic in me says, have you asked if it is a budgetary reason, perhaps they are running out of money and waiting for April’s budget, sorry that might not help you but it is worth asking them.
I can not comment on second opinions as I haven’t had to take that line thank goodness but you might want to pursue it.
All the very best
Carol