"After six weeks we still don’t know what he’s up against"

My husband was admitted to Monklands University Hospital on a Thursday nigh recently, after his GP received blood test results. After an overnight stay he got a CT scan on Friday. That evening we were advised that my husband had a tumour on his liver and it was cancer. On the Saturday morning his consultant advised that this may not be the case and he would need a biopsy, this would be scheduled.

He was released from hospital on Saturday and advised to come back on Sunday evening as the biopsy would be performed on the Monday, he was kept in overnight released on the Tuesday and advised to come back on Wednesday, when eventually it was carried out. We got a call on the following Thursday (over a week later) to come to the Hospital for the results the next day.  At this consultation we were advised that the biopsy confirmed cancer but they were unsure of the origin. They didn’t know what type it was, we were advised that the next step would be an endoscope and a colonoscopy to try and find it but it could be microscopic. We discussed how we should keep in touch and we agreed that it would be through the doctor and his team and as we stayed local we could be at the hospital within 10 to 15 mins.

Paperwork was received to confirm that the endoscope and colonoscopy would be carried out just over a week after that meeting, on a Saturday. Due to his illness my husband was unable to tolerate the prep and could only have the endoscope performed. We were advised that they would make an appointment as a matter of urgency and send out a different prep. After a few days we hadn’t heard anything and I tried to call the doctor.  I was advised that the doctor was on annual leave, I asked that another appointment be arranged and was told I would need to wait. My husband then called to push this is a matter of urgency and we were then given an appointment for 11 days later. The colonoscopy was carried out on a Wednesday.

The following day I contacted a different doctor, I spoke with an admin who advised that this doctor was on a course and wouldn’t be back until the following week. I expressed my concerns and distress at the timescales involved and that my husband is relatively young, we have 3 children who know that dad is unwell and its starting to take its toll on us as a family. The stress of the not knowing will not be helping his illness and he is losing weight every day.

My husband was called back by and we were asked to come in for a chat the following day. We had a good discussion with the staff member who answered as much as she could and we have now been advised that we need to wait for an MIT to take place for the consultants to agree next steps.

I believe that in other area’s like Highlands NHS the gold standard of care is a full MRI where secondary cancer is present to quickly identify the primary to move to treat it as soon as possible to greatly improve mortality in patients.  It’s been six weeks and we still don’t know what he’s up against and he’s continually losing weight and if he needs an operation he needs to be fit for it. I am really concerned that these delays could have a detrimental affect on his mortality. He's ready to fight but he needs to know what he's fighting.