"Great Cancer Care at Pilgrim Boston & free parking at Lincoln for oncology"

Living with Cancer - April 2014 Pilgrim Boston

Found a lump! ! Scary or what! ! diagnosed with breast cancer and had first appointment at Pilgrim Breast Unit for X-ray, ultrasound, and biopsies. Noted that a Clinic is held in the evening which is of benefit to the patients. Date set for April for lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsies.

Arrived at day case ward in the morning and waited over 7 hours before surgery and during this time had one 30 minute pre-op procedure. Have spoken to Mr Abdel-Rahman about the long wait and it is suggested that all patients are not admitted at the same time, but at staggered times, dependent on placement on the operating list.

Was discharged in the evening five hours after surgery began and I feel this was too soon and I would much prefer to have stayed overnight.

Pain management - advised to take paracetamol/ibuprofen on discharge and this proved to be of little effect and I was in considerable pain. GP prescribed painkiller to which I re-acted badly resulting in very unpleasant and painful experience. Second painkillers also made me feel unwell and did little to ease the pain.

When I find something wrong I do try and suggest improvements and wonder if some sort of pain management programme could be given to each patient, and combine this with the suggested overnight stay. Then it could be seen that the patients' respond well to the meds. Pain control could then be more easily managed at home, making the cancer journey more bearable.

Guidelines state that test results will be given within two weeks of surgery. Mine were not ready and I had to return home for another week of waiting, so Guidelines were breached. I am to receive 15 sessions of radiotherapy at Lincoln Hospital and am most grateful to learn that the parking is free. - every little does help.

On the positive side, I have the highest praise for the professionalism and support from Mr Abdel-Rahman and I have received excellent five star care from all the Nurses and Staff at Pilgrim. My heartfelt thanks. The people working at Pilgrim are wonderful - just some of the procedures need attention.