Hi all,
I'm asking on behalf of a family member, 60+ male diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in Fed/Mar following a lot of back and forth with the Dr who kept putting symptoms down to a stomach ulcer, said family member was visiting Dr for 6 months with issues before finally extreme wait loss expediated him to have a CT Scan. Turned out to be Stage 3 pancreatic cancer, 2 tumors in the centre and two more in the liver. Was able to get on to a trial but further evidence of potential cancer in bones and lungs meant not able to continue the trial.
Whilst on the trial he would have chemo one a week and regular discussions with his oncologist. Since being removed from the trial he barely sees his oncologist, scan in June showed additional cancer and was removed from trial, say oncologist again in Sept but no CT scan. A CT Scan finally took place in October but only our chasing has got him a oncologist appointment today. He has deteriorated rapidly, mid Oct he would walk to the cafe/pub to see his mates (15min walk) and for the last two weeks he can hardly walk around his own house without help. Constantly tired, sleeps most of the day, is in tremendous pain which is now under control thanks to an up in morphine.
Does it seem right to see your oncologist every 3 months and a CT Scan once every 5 months? His outlook is months (9 - 12months) so it seems strange to have such a gap between catch ups, you would think he would see someone more often.
current issues are very bad constipation I guess from morphine, tiredness, various numb fingers and toes and recently high resting heart rate and swollen ankles and I think wrists. I'm sure there is more, the decline has been so bad I'm not sure the Dr will know it's the same person today that they saw end of Sept.
Not sure why I'm posting this, or what to expect from it but the whole family feel left and ignored. They are not ones to raise issues or cause a fuss and in doing so I feel he has been overlooked. Been in A&E 3 times in last 8 days. Is there an option for him to be placed on a ward at the hospital or does it not work like that?
