I am the wife of the patient. My husband was fast tracked because of weight loss and slow swallowing. He had an endoscopy and a couple of biopsies...results came back a month later by post...inflammation. Another endoscopy and more biopsies...two weeks and letter said MDT meeting due. Next morning a phone call at 8 am. Hubby asleep I answered...was told by a nurse, who said I usually do this face to face but it is cancer. I was stunned into silence, just saying yes and scribbling down..he’ll have a scan, oncology will be in touch, surgery at ...(miles away)...phone number. When my husband got up I told him he had to have a PET scan. I could not tell him it was cancer. I had an appointment with our lovely GP that morning anyway and told her. She held my hand and was shocked but said leave it with me. The nurse in question rang mid afternoon and said lightly “How are you after your early morning call?” I said “Not good, I can’t tell him, I can’t find the words.” He then spoke to my husband who took it calmly. He sobbed in my arms and so did I , a few days later. Now the appointments are coming thick and fast. We are on a frightening journey, need a guide but trust evaporated with this specialist nurse...who holds a high post we find. We have had our three score years and ten, the time left is precious and we don’t want anger and bitterness just love.
