"Cancer Diagnosis"

Dear Future Survivor,

My name is Murdina Macdonald, I am the Lead Cancer Nurse and Professional Lead Nurse for RCDS. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I’m very grateful that you took the time to describe not only what happened, but how it felt to move through the pathway.

I’m very sorry that you have had to face a diagnosis of gastric cancer, but I’m encouraged to hear that you were listened to early on and that your GP acted promptly. That early recognition and fast-tracking are so important, and your experience reminds us how much those first steps matter.

I’m also really glad to hear that you felt kept informed throughout what can be an overwhelming period. Clear, honest communication is not an extra in cancer care, it is central to helping people feel safe, supported, and able to cope with what lies ahead. Knowing what is happening, and why, makes an enormous difference at a time when so much feels uncertain.

Your comments about the staff will mean a great deal to the teams involved. They reflect the care, professionalism, and kindness that people strive to give every day, often under significant pressure. Experiences like yours show what is possible when good systems support good people to do their best work.

From a service perspective, stories like this are just as important for learning as those where things have gone wrong. They help us understand what we must protect and strengthen early listening, timely investigation, coordinated pathways, and communication that treats people as partners in their care.

As you continue with your treatment, please know that you remain at the centre of the team’s thinking. We wish you well with your final chemotherapy cycle and the planned surgery, and we will continue to support you through each stage. Thank you again for sharing your experience.

Warm Wishes

Murdina