"I will never be able to thank you enough"

I was referred by my GP to the team at Airedale General Hospital as I had a breast lump.  Unfortunately for me, this turned out to be breast cancer and the start of a journey that no-one wants to begin.  However, the team at Airedale have made the journey so far one that has restored my faith in the caring nature of the staff who work within the healthcare industry.  Luckily for me, I had not had too much reason for contact with health professionals prior to this diagnosis, but I feel that the tales told in the press are of the errors in judgement of a small percentage in this industry, so there is naturally some fear and reservations about the treatment that you might receive from the NHS and concerns about whether private healthcare being a better option.  My experience has shown what a dedicated team of professionals the NHS has, from the surgeons to the nursing team, to the dedicated volunteers, they have all been superb.

It cannot be an easy job to give someone the news that they have breast cancer, but this message is given in such a way that I felt supported from day 1.  The treatment plan that I was then placed on was communicated to me in a way that I understood each stage of it, with guidance and support from all the team right the way through. The team who completed the additional investigations do so in a professional manner which means a lot when you are having cod liver oil tablets sellotaped to your nipples before having an MRI scan, or being told that you will momentarily feel as though you have wet yourself when having a CT scan. The oncologists who have explained in a factual and caring manner the course of chemotherapy and the potential side effects that might result from this treatment and who continually assess your ability to cope with the high strength drugs that are put into your body on a regular basis.  The nursing team on the chemo ward (HODU at Airedale) whose caring, positive and dedicated attitude towards all their patients is to be admired.  From putting in a PICC line, to regular checks during chemo, to reassurance and support for one very scared individual, they have proven to be a fantastic team who go so far beyond expectations and what they are paid for to ensure that the chemo is made as easy as possible for the patients involved. The surgeons who have given me all the options to enable me to choose a course of treatment that suited me, whilst getting the results that were needed.  By offering chemo before surgery has meant that I only needed a lumpectomy and axilla clearance rather than a mastectomy and reconstruction, and the thoughtful and skilled surgeon who has removed the affected tissue and left me with the smallest and most discreet scar possible.

Throughout my treatment I have felt valued as a patient, consulted as to how my treatment plan should proceed, and I have felt cared for and respected by every healthcare professional that I have come across in this past 8 months. We are truly lucky to have such dedicated individuals working for us in the NHS and I will never be able to thank you enough for the care that you have afforded me through this journey.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.