"We want proper care in our old age"

In December 2017 my husband was called to Ayr Hospital for a scan following a bad chest infection. As he heard nothing he wrongly assumed that it was O.K. However, in mid January he was at Ayr Hospital for his routine bladder scope (he has bladder cancer) and a doctor looked at his notes and said he may have secondaries! Again nothing happened.

In February he had his birthday check with his G.P. I phoned Cathcart Street and spoke to Dr. McKenzie and said how worried I was about his scan. He then found that the scan in December had shown a shadow on his right lung, and was very worried that nothing had been done.  Dr. McKenzie then organised an appointment at Crosshouse at the end of February. He confirmed that there was a shadow and he would need another scan and pulmonary function test. In April he has to go to ‘on call’ Dr at Ayr Hospital as he had a chest infection and feeling grim. Put on antibiotics.

We finally hear that my husband has to have a scan on towards the end of April at Ayr Hospital.  We stupidly thought that this was for his chest but found out it was for the bladder area as Dr. Guran was wanting to check his pelvic area. When we phoned to see if this could have both areas scanned he was told this was not possible. However, a very sensible radiographer said there was no problem and did it.

We now move to May and I phone our surgery to ask why nothing is happening.  They call us and get up the scan on the screen. The Doctor is very concerned and sends us to Ayr Hospital at noon. After 2 hours they start doing some tests, bloods, Xrays, etc. Our family arrive to give support. At 4.30pm a consultant doctor comes to hear our story and apologises. They have contacted urology and Crosshouse and say something should start to happen next week.

He gets a lung function test a week later at Ayr and a CAT scan at the Beatson at the end of May.

We return to see the Dr at Crosshouse in early June. As we enter the room the Doctor has not opened the file or put scan on the screen. After sometime they tell us the growth is bigger!  They cannot find details of his pulmonary test and I tell them the date. Still can’t find it. The doctor tells us that my husband will need a needle biopsy and depending on his fitness they could take part of the lung away. They said they will implement this and we should hear very soon.

In early June at Ayr my husband has an operation to look at his bladder, tube and kidney. The Doctor is optimistic that although in a mess it is not any worse. Bits taken for histology and my husband now bleeds and urinates every 20mins or less until mid June. Waterworks hasn’t been right in 8 years but he copes and wears pads and rarely complains. Life is not easy but we accept our lot. I am just clear of breast cancer!

We both feel very alone and distressed  that his condition has been left for all these months. He gets his results of urinary biopsy on July. This could have been at the end of June but we are having a holiday then and we’ve already cancelled one.

He has no complaints of Dr. Guran and the urinary department at Ayr. We are not looking for sympathy just proper care in our old age.