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Diddles
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I am unable to eat solid food at the moment due to a stricture in my oesophagus. Went for my first appointment with consultant and there was a Macmillan nurse there also which to be honest freaked me out a bit. I've had a gastroscopy where they couldn't get the camera past the stricture and a CT scan but was told another gastroscopy needs to be done quickly which means me cancelling a 2 week holiday. Can you advise why the Macmillan nurse would be there especially when I haven't been told I have cancer? 

  • Hi Diddles

    I'm sorry to hear that you've been experiencing health concerns and that the hospital are having difficulty in being able to complete the necessary tests. I'm sure it's a really frustrating and anxious time for you. 

    I don't know why the Macmillan nurse was also in the appointment. I suppose there could be lots of reasons but anything I suggested would only be a guess. It's understandable though that the nurse being there would have made you feel more concerned. 

    I wondered if it was worth giving your consultant's secretary a quick call to ask if it's normal practice for a Macmillan nurse to be at outpatient clinics with the team? It may be that they attend all appointments as standard or maybe this nurse was observing clinic that day. Hopefully if you explain to them that it's caused you additional worry they will be able to give you some answers that may put your mind more at ease. 

    I hope that you don't have to wait too much longer for the procedure and the results. Keep in touch and let us know how you get on. 

    Best wishes, 
    Jenn
    Cancer Chat moderator

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    Hi Diddles,

    Welcome to our forum.

    I'm sorry to hear that you were freaked out by having a Macmillan nurse in the room for your first appointment. I don't have the same problem as you, but I expect that the procedure may be the same.

    I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer in the past 10 years. For the first 8 years, I had 2 different male consultants and they nearly always had a breast care nurse with them at my appointments. These nurses were also allocated as my port of call any time I had to contact the clinic and, were very helpful with advice, as well as bringing me back to the clinic when my symptoms needed to be investigated.

    I now have a female consultant, so I don't see the nurses all the time, but they are still there from on occasions and I know that I can contact them at any time if I need advice. This is nothing to worry about. It is just how the clinics run. I hope that someone else with oesophagul problems can confirm that this is usual in these clinics too.

    Do please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

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    Hi, thanks for the replies. Unfortunately I was admitted to my local hospital as now I can't swallow anything so now on drips. At least it will bring the tests forward so may get some answers. 

  • Offline in reply to Diddles

     

    Hi Diddlles,

    I am so sorry to hear that you have been hospitalised, but hope that this will get things moving for you.

    Do please keep us in the loop and let us know how you get on.

    Thinking of you and praying for a good outcome.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

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