That wonderful consultant from the LRI, Mr. Moir, has now put me on to yearly follow ups.
He knows that in reality I can drop in if ever I feel there is a problem. But things do seem to be progressing well.

best wishes to all. Tony K

Hi Tony, yearly follow ups, that's a result. You must be well chuffed. It's nice to know they're there if you need them but nice not to have to go in so often. Well done. Hagg.

Fantastic news Tony. Another huge step forward.

Mum
x

Tony

I am really pleased to hear that news

best wishes

Martyn

Hi Tony

That's really good news! Last time I was at the LRI for my monthly appointment I had to wait two hours from my appointment time to see the doctor. I do appreciate everything they are doing and realise that they are extremely busy, but it will be so good when I reach the stage that you are at and only have to go once a year. It must also be such a relief to feel that things are going well.

Regards
Gwyn

good news Tony, Not sure why i have to go every 6 months but it is a relief when they find nothing once more

Paul

Hi Tony
This is really good news -its another obstacle crossed and you have touched the finishing line in style. Well done.
Reagrads,
Ananth

Gwyn and Tony - as fellow LRIers.

I don't know Mr Moir. My consultant at MaxFax is usually Mr Avery. I have been going for monthly checks/monitoring since my RT ended in December. Then this monday I was told to come back when I feel ready to go ahead with (previously failed) reconstructive surgery.

I do not know if I have been ok'd for the non-return of cancer -- which obviously would be strange so soon. I feel that I should still be on monthly check-ups. 'Return when ready' seems so open ended; meanwhile do I just monitor myself for any signs of recurrence? and contact them if concerned.

I feel a bit abandoned, and certainly somewhat confused. Also I wonder if one gets a little institutionalised and dependent? Or sensitive to being perceived as such?

To take Gwyn's point about scarce resources: I 'feel beholding' for the treatment and do not want to seem pushy, or taking more than my fair share of time. However, I have seen people in the MaxFax waiting room give the reception staff a hard time. I cringe when I see it.

Best wishes

Martyn

Hello Martyn

Not been on line for a while so I have only just seen your post. I too usually see Mr Avery at the LRI and have also seen Mr Hayter, but never Mr Moir. When I saw Mr Hayter this month he implied that I have passed some sort of landmark as it is over six months since my op. I was told after my op that I would be seen every month for a year, although it does tend to be every five or six weeks due to pressure on appointments. I thought that the monthly check ups were standard practice and I, too, would feel anxious if they were not to happen, so it does seem strange that they have told you to come back when you are ready. I hope they are not changing their practice. Do you think you could ask someone at MaxFax what this means for you?

They have always told me to contact them in between appointments if I have any concerns whatsoever, and I have been back once when I found a lump (luckily it wasn't anything to worry about but they fitted me in the next day) but I do find it very reassuring at the moment to have someone look round my mouth every month.

I know the feeling of being abandoned as I had exactly that when I was being treated for breast cancer, and after 9 months of being in almost constant contact with the hospital (surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy) they told me just after my last radiotherapy that I could go back to work in a fortnight and they would see me in a year's time! I don't think it is dependency, but a natural reaction to a very scary situation. And I don't think people who have never gone through this can really understand how we feel, even if they do work in the NHS. When I went back to work one of my colleagues (a fellow psychologist no less!) asked me why I was thinking of retiring, saying "but I thought they had got it all out and you are fine now".

None of us want to feel "pushy" and even as an NHS professional I still feel reluctant to make a fuss, but I think we do need to try to be assertive (but not aggressive and hostile) as we can so easily get "lost" in such a large and busy organisation.

Regards
Gwyn

hey good news tony,i am still going every 6 weeks and i finished my treatment a year ago i cant wait to be told one year at a time.great stuff.love shirl xxx