"Room 10 Cancer care unit"

I was diagnosed with Metastatic Breast Cancer 18 months ago which has spread throughout my body and consequently I have a poor prognosis.

I was prescribed with a monthly treatment in room 10 at Stoke Mandeville. Hospital. I have had an occasion when I arrived for a treatment to be told that they hadn't time to give it to me although I had an appointment. On other occasions, I have had lengthy waits but on the last occasion in December 2018 , I had been instructed to arrive a little earlier for my appointment so that I could have my bloods done as the unit had been closed over Christmas. At pathology they put a pink sticker on my paperwork to show that I was waiting. My son, who is Autistic and drives on a medical licence was waiting outside for me. Three hours later when I enquired what was happening, I was told that they had lost my bloods and to wait a little longer. I had explained on arrival that my son was waiting and he had Autism and Bi Polar Disorder and was getting very disturbed waiting outside. I then noticed that all but two nurses had gone and there was only one patient left who was putting on her coat ready to go home. I asked again what was happening and was told they only had one result and I couldn't have my treatment on that, which I understood but I had to leave on account of my son.

I said that perhaps they could phone me when they had sorted things out. I was very tired and emotional and when they stated that they would give me another appointment, I said that they could hang on to my Chemotherapy record for next time if ever. After New Year, I still had not heard anything from them and I was very worried and perplexed. I attend another unit on a weekly basis whom asked if they could find out what was happening regarding my treatment. Then began a long and distressing series of replies and on occasions, just ignoring me and the nurses who were kind, at the Hospice. I found that a few of the nurses at the treatment room were rude, unkind and totally lacking in empathy. Others were nice.This saga now has an end in sight as an appointment has now been made for my next treatment. I have been made to feel very vulnerable and  distressed by all this when just by having cancer, life has had to change and as I do not have any family or friends to help and support me. Very difficult.