Stage IV pancreatic cancer - worried about how to transfer my medical care after moving to another area. Anyone had experience of this?

Hi, diagnosed last year after several months of feeling unwell. Started chemo but it almost killed me (pulmonary embolism), enforced break for 4 months by which time I had lesions in my liver and peritoneum. Palliative chemo started in Jan but had another break due to bowel obstruction, now have loop ileostomy to add to the mix. Chemo restarted and am tolerating it to a degree. Had infections, one required hospitalisation. I’m taking a break next month to relocate nearer to my family as I live in Lincolnshire and they’re all in Yorkshire. 
Worrying about how to transfer my care as smoothly as possible. Has anyone had experience of this?

  • Hi Willowsmum, 

    Thank you for coming here and sharing your story. I am so sorry to hear that you had a pulmonary embolism after starting chemotherapy and that you had lesions in your liver and peritoneum. You have been through so much poor you and I hope that this round of treatment will be kinder to you, that you will tolerate it better and that there will be no further infections. 

    Best of luck with the move from Lincolnshire to Yorkshire. Moving is always a bit stressful but it will be comforting to be closer to your family and to have their company and support. It's normal to worry about transferring your care after a move, but it should be a straightforward process and something they will be used to dealing with on a regular basis. You will probably need to find a new GP surgery that covers your new postcode and register there - you can find out more about this on the NHS page on registering with a GP surgery

    It might also be worth requesting an adequate supply of your regular medications from your old GP before moving, as the transfer process can take up to a week. If you are currently on a waiting list or receiving ongoing specialist care, let your new GP know so they can re-refer you to a local hospital trust. It should all go really smoothly. 

    I hope that you will hear from other members of our community who have had their medical care transferred to another area - it's always interesting to hear other people's experiences and moving stories. I hope you won't mind but I have slightly edited the title of your thread to reflect your situation so that it can be more easily spotted by others who might have been in a similar boat in the past. 

    Best of luck with the move! You are moving to a beautiful and friendly area and I hope that you will be really well looked after. 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Hi Willowsmum,

    I am so sorry to hear about your diagnosis and the resultant problems that you've had. 

    Can your family in Yorkshire select a suitable medical practice for you? We moved from Scotland to the south of England a couple of years ago and thought that we had everything arranged well in advance. My family chose a suitable practice for us and got the registration forms. We had to register in person, which we did as soon as we arrived. Unfortunately, despite both of us having serious medical issues, and asking our practice to send our details to the new practice, our GP up north did not send any medical records down, even when requested to do so for a second time, by our new GP and ourselves. We had also informed consultants and clinics of the change and asked them to forward details. Only a handful of these complied.

    Fortunately, I had kept a record of our medical history and I have to hand it to our new GP, in that he very quickly arranged for a raft of tests and got us seen by all the relevant clinics. My advice would be to make absolutely certain that all your medical records are transferred before you leave Lincolnshire. Also, as our moderator, Lucie, has suggested, ensuring that you have some additional medication to see you through the changeover period.

    I hope that all goes well for you and that you soon settle into your new home.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx