Kim,

Your hospital broke all the rules in informing you by letter. My guess is that this was down to human error and that you should complain to help stop it happening again.

I was told in the middle of my gastroscopy, the upper GI consultant was supposed to be checking for a peptic ulcer but found "a large lump, I'll take some biopsies" before he reached my stomach. The atmosphere in the room suddenly changed and he switched from asking the nurse where she was going on holiday.

The diagnosis was confirmed a few days (it felt like weeks) later, when the incurable and inoperable phrase was used for the first time and I was told I might only have weeks to live.  Strangely I was unphased by this as I had built myself up to expect the worst but my wife was knocked for six, as were the rest of my family.I wasn't being brave, just numbed.

Dave

Kim,

Your hospital broke all the rules in informing you by letter. My guess is that this was down to human error and that you should complain to help stop it happening again.

I was told in the middle of my gastroscopy, the upper GI consultant was supposed to be checking for a peptic ulcer but found "a large lump, I'll take some biopsies" before he reached my stomach. The atmosphere in the room suddenly changed and he switched from asking the nurse where she was going on holiday.

The diagnosis was confirmed a few days (it felt like weeks) later, when the incurable and inoperable phrase was used for the first time and I was told I might only have weeks to live.  Strangely I was unphased by this as I had built myself up to expect the worst but my wife was knocked for six, as were the rest of my family.I wasn't being brave, just numbed.

Dave