Full list of topics 
Spacer
Spacer
Spacer
Spacer
Spacer
Spacer

Colorectal CancerArrow
Less than 3 years since diagnosis
Interview 25  

Interview 25

Age at Interview: 66
Sex: Female
Age at Diagnosis: 64
Background:

Brief outline:Diagnosed with colorectal cancer and secondary cancer of the liver 1999, recieved chemotherapy treatment.


To watch or read an interview clip, click on the heading that interests you. Either a video,audio recording or text will open, depending on the clip
To close transcript boxes, click here
To print the interview’s text, click here
Poor support outside of normal working hours is a problem for a palliative chemotherapy patient living in a rural area.

 



When you have the chemotherapy, the chemo unit is always available for you to, and to help you from Mondays to Fridays but Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays there's nobody there. But you have to phone this other hospital up which is quite a long way away where there's a ward and they're very helpful but of course they don't know you.

Because we live in the country it's quite frightening if you want an emergency doctor. Um, things have improved in the last few months again but at that time there was no emergency GP service. It was all right if you were ill between nine and four but after that you dialled the emergency number and somebody had to come from well at least, nearly 30 miles away.

Another time I had to call out, because I phoned the chemo unit and they said "You must see a doctor and you must see one today," and it was a Saturday but I did manage to get somebody who only, the GP's surgery that's only about eight miles away. Well eventually when he did come he said "Oh well it's no good me coming two hours after the event," he said "You needed somebody," because I think it was something to do with my blood pressure might have dropped very low and, he said "Next time don't bother to call me just dial 999." 

But I mean even here where we live the ambulance service is a long way away and you don't feel like bothering an ambulance crew. Anyway so it makes you feel a bit unsafe and in a very kind of dangerous position often.
Support our work

healthtalkonline.org - Teaching and Learning

Mail to a friend

Send