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Do you receive bad news through post

Gez06
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My Dad has been diagnosed with lung cancer. With secondary tumours on spine and in liver. We have been told it is incurable. His care path will be palliative. They plan to do radiotherapy on spine, to help with both pain and slow down any advance. His lung samples have been sent to Birmingham for them to evaluate if chemo/target therapy will work.

This is all clear and we know where we are with his disease. However he was toldradiotherapy would start last week. We have heard nothing. I spoke to the lung team at local hospital who said the radiotherapy team and oncologist were ireviewing his cancer and treatment options. We would receive a letter regarding this? 
 

Do you receive BAD NEWSthrough the post?. I am concerned my Dad will get a letter saying they can't do anything and it will have severe ramifications for his mood/ outlook. 

Can anyone clarify please.

 

Thank you

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    I'm not a Nurse or health care professional, though I HIGHLY doubt you'd receive a letter through the post of that nature. 

    I'd expect a conversation with a Consultant, either face-to-face or via phone. 

    That said, you still may get the outcome you desire. I'm aware of NHS strikes at this time which may cause slight delays. 

    I support the Nurses seeking pay rises, as they've not had any meaningful increases for many years. 

    I wish you well & maybe a Nurse can answer your question with authority. X
     

  • Hello Gez06 and thanks for posting,

    I can understand your concerns, but I'm afraid I can't answer your question with much certainty because I don't know for sure how the local cancer team does things. 

    I would like to think that if the doctors have mentioned treatments that they then decide won't help, then this is something they would want to explain and discuss with any patient.  And I would imagine that this is what happens most of the time in situations like this, but I can't say it always does given the pressure in the NHS at the moment.  However, it could be that this review decides on a specific path of treatment for your dad which the letter will outline.  

    Perhaps it would be a good idea to get back in touch with the lung team, (I assume there is a specialist lung nurse (CNS), you can make contact with), to make your concerns known. You could ask for your dad to be given an appointment if no recommended treatment is the outcome of this review, but I don't know if this is especially likely in his circumstances given what has already been said - try and find out what you can. 

    Do give us a ring if you want to talk anything over, our number is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and we are around from 9-5 weekdays but closed on Friday (23rd) and the coming Bank Holidays.

    Best wishes, 

    Julia

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