What more can I do in order to get mums treatment started please advise-  

15th Dec 2016 Ultra sound carried out. GP calls mum at home that night to tell her that a suspicious swelling had been found in her left kidney and he was referring her to a Urology consultant for further investigation.

22rd Dec 2016 Endoscope investigation carried out by Urology consultant. Informed after the endoscope that a lump had been found in mums kidney but he wanted to investigate further with a CT scan and blood tests.

5th Jan 2017 CT scan carried out. 

16th Jan 2017 Appointment received in post outpatient clinic

1st Feb 2017 Diagnosis received at his Hospital outpatient clinic. Mum has a 7cm renal cell cancer (RCC) in her left kidney,

Cystic lesions in the head and body of the pancreas which may represent neoplasms and required referral to a Gastrointestinal multidisciplinary team (MDT),

Three nodules measuring 8,11 and 6mm representing suspicious metastases on the lungs.

Mum and I are asked what we would like to happen next regarding treatment and options are discussed with our consultant and assigned  MacMillan nurse e.g. Surgery to remove the kidney (nephrectomy), targeted and biological therapy drugs and monitoring. Mum tells them she would like the kidney removed. Our consultant informs us both that he would make the Urology consultant surgeon aware of mums preferred treatment option as he no longer carried out this type of surgery. The consultant surgeon would produce mums treatment plan and carry out any surgery if this was a suitable option once all risks had been considered. He also stated that a MDT would meet to discuss the concerns regarding the pancreas and lungs. He explained that if cancer was found in the pancreas this treatment would take priority over that of the kidney, as pancreatic cancer is more aggressive.We are given the MacMillan nurses direct telephone number and asked to ring any time if we had any concerns what so ever or needed updates on what was going on.

10th Feb 2017 No news concerning the MDT meeting received. Decide to ring mums MacMillan nurse for an update on the situation. She informs us that a MDT meeting was taking place that day and she thought mums case would be discussed, but she couldn't confirm that would be definite. She tells me she should hear something early the following week and would get back to us.

15th Feb 2017 Not heard anything from MacMillan nurse. Ring her and informed the MDT think it might be cysts on the pancreas but they wanted mum to have an MRI scan, she had been referred forthis and should receive an appointment date in the post shortly. She also tells us they were not overly concerned about the nodules on the lungs and they would be monitored.

19th Feb 2017 Mum receives appointment letter for her first appointment with the urology consulant surgeonc dated 7th April 2017. We can't believe it! How can someone with a 7cm cancer in the kidney and other still unresolved medical concerns have to wait a shocking sixty five days after diagnosis for her initial meeting, not starting treating. Unbelievable!

20th Feb 2017 Ring mums Macmillan nurse as she still hasn't received an appointment for her MRI scan. Nurse repeats again mum had been referred for the MRI. I also tell her about the appointment with the clinic not being until the 7th April. She does not seem concerned about this either. I ask for telephone numbers for the consulant urology surgeon and the MRI department and I am left to chase them up. Ring MRI department. They inform me they have a MRI scan booked for mum on the 1st April. When I explain mum has a 7cm tumour in her left kidney andconcerns about the pancreas which needed investigation to rule out cancer they inform me that the MRI referral form should have been marked 'urgent' and it wasn't. A clerical error had been made by whoever completed the referral form. They apologise and arrange for an urgent MRI scan to be carried out on the 23rd Feb.

Next I ring the consultant surgeons secretary in the hope of getting mums outpatient appointment brought forward. She informs me the consultant has been on leave for three weeks in February and had more leave booked for March, hence the long wait for an appointment. She informs me she will have to speak to the consulants clinic co ordinator who is on leave but would be back the next day.

21st Feb 2017 Ring consulants secretary. She has spoken to the clinic co ordinator but all his clinics are absolutely full. She informs me that she has had lots of patients with urgent cases ringing her up to voice their concerns about delays in treatment and she was in the process of composing an e-mail for managements attention regarding concerns raised with her. Informed her I would also lodge a complaint with the Patient Advice and Liaison Team (PALS) and she tells me that would be a good idea.

Drive to the Hospital and have a 40 minute meeting with PALS officer. I explain the time it had taken from the GP referral to cancer diagnosis and voice serious concerns regarding the lack of progress since diagnosis with regard to developing a treatment action plan. I also discuss the extra stress and anxiety this has causedmy mum and family at this difficult time. She arranges for mums MRI scan result to be fast tracked to the MDT team after the MRI and rings the consultants  secretary for a copy of the e-mail she is composing for management regarding patient concerns with regard to delays in cancer treatment. She tells me she will add her concerns following our conversation to that e-mail. As we leave her office she offers mum her best wishes regarding her future treatment.

21st Feb 2017 6pm - Receive phone call from PALS officer she has requested that mums appointment is brought forward and we should hear when it is by Monday 27th Feb. We are to let her know if we don't hear anything.

23rd Feb 2017- MRI scan carried out  

24th Feb 2017 - Post has just called at mums and still no new appointment. Ring PALS office and leave a message saying how concerned and anxious we are about hearing nothing.   

WHAT MORE CAN I DO? I feel like crying and I'm letting mum down. I also feel anxious for  those other patients awaiting urgent cancer treatment that don't all have family to fight their corner, especially the elderly.