A nightmare with the hospital - mum diagnosed with situ breast cancer. Told it would be o.k to go on holiday we had already booked, now it's all up in the air

My mum was diagnosed with in situ breast cancer last week. They booked an appointment for her pre op and operation there and then 13th of June and 4th of July. She also told the surgeon and nurse present that she had a holiday booked from June 16th to June 30th. She was very clear that she could cancel this holiday if treatment would be delayed however the surgeon and nurse assured her that the earliest operation date was July 4th and that she should go on and enjoy her holiday. If she had canceled her holiday at this point we would have been fully insured. However as she was given the ok to go we had to change the insurance as the one she had would no longer cover her? We had to pay an additional £1150 for this insurance.

yesterday a letter came through the post with an appointment unrelated to this issue when we where on holiday so she rang the booking department to reschedule.

when she was on the phone however the person told her that there was an appointment booked for her to have a mag seed fitted before surgery while we are away? She immediately rang the breast clinic to point out there mistake. The lady on the phone explained there was nothing she could do at this time as the people she needed to speak to had gone home which put her in super panic mode as her worst fear is that surgery will be delayed. 

they then called back at 9am this morning to say there where no other appointments available before her surgery other than when she was on holiday and would have to talk to the surgeon and call her back later this was 5 hours ago and not heard back. She is still in super panic mode with high blood pressure convinced nobody cares now. We have told every body we have spoken to about this holiday and where assured to go ahead we will now be down £7500 if we do not go but we won’t delay the surgery.

not sure what to do here

  • Just found out it’s as we feared treatment delayed 2 weeks new date 18th July

  • 2 weeks delay is ok.  At least it isn't months and your mum can go away and enjoy her holiday.  When your mum is ready to travel again, I would suggest shopping around for insurance.  What you have paid seems extreme.  I managed to get an annual, multi trip policy for £211 and declared my breast cancer and kidney function issues.  

    Just enjoy your holiday, forget about everything for a couple of weeks and come back refreshed and ready to support your mum through her cancer journey.  Hopefully now your mum has a new date she can relax a bit and know her holiday won't be interrupted and everything is in place for her return. 

    Good luck with everything.

    Carol