Seven...

We all know that medicine is not an exact science; that, I think, is a given. It would, however, be nice if medical personnel could get their story straight! Three different health professionals, all working "together", have now given me three conflicting pieces of information about what follow-up I can expect once my radiotherapy finishes. I am, as you can imagine, not happy about this. It seems to me that it should be simple enough to write in my notes that my follow-up treatment will be x and then everyone can tell me the same thing. So, far, I've been told that after the six-week check-up I will need to revisit the hospital a) not unless I notice anything unusual - and I will be given a list of what to look out for, b) three months later, followed by every six months for five years and c) every three months for two years and six-monthly thereafter until five years have passed - and I certainly won't be told what symptoms to look out for, since that might worry me into thinking I have them! Now, I'm sure you'll agree that those opinions are rather different... And, as far as I'm concerned, it is not good enough to give patients conflicting information of this sort. I will be following this up next week when I see the doctor - this time it will be the doctor as the nurse specialist is on holiday - for the final time.

Since the first visit to the first gynaecologist in January 2006, nobody has suggested a need for internal examination. However, it seems that every check-up visit will involve this invasive procedure. I tell you this, since it's something I suspected, but nobody had confirmed until today. Again, I protested that I did not wish ever again to see a male health professional for such a procedure. I have been assured that I can ask to see a woman but why, I wonder, can this preference not be added to my case notes? Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised - after all, nobody seems to read them before talking to me, so there's probably not much point in writing anything important there! However, I've learned that it is vital to state your opinion and preferences - you probably won't be asked (I wasn't), and if you don't complain, you may end up feeling at best embarrassed and at worse violated.

When you do ask for something (not) to happen, nobody makes you feel as though you're being a nuisance - nor should they. In fact, whenever I've objected to or asked for something, my wishes have been met and I've been reassured that I should state my opinion, which will be complied with as long as the request is reasonable. Maybe, as one of the health professionals said, I give as good as I get, but at least I feel that I'm taking charge of what's happening to me - and, after all, if you don't ask, you can't expect your medical team to be mind readers!

For the first time since this whole business began, I am really annoyed. I have been mildly disconcerted, slightly irritated and distinctly put out in the last few months, but today's performance has left me feeling angry; there is no reason to confuse patients like this - I have noticed that such things are never written down, presumably so there's no evidence of difference of opinion...

It is not hard to get it right. I know the health service is overstretched and health personnel are hugely overworked, but making sure that everyone is providing the same information is really important. Being told different things by members of the same team does not inspire confidence - this is where the radiotherapy and medical team differ; the former team members don't contradict each other!

I fear I am losing my sense of humour. It's not even mildly amusing any more!

As for the radiotherapy, that was fine, though I had to have yet another x-ray to check the appropriacy of the adjustments made according to the series taken this week.

Seven more sessions... and counting...