Forum Discussion
Saturday Vent
My Saturday Vent
I'm so cross my niece's step mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer on Thursday but before she got the results from the breast surgeon, her gp had the results and called her in (urgent appointment) told her she has breast cancer and it was in both boobs and she had better go home and get her affairs in order, asking her questions like do you have a will? you had better go to see a solicitor and get a medical power of attorney sorted ..
OMG all she has had an ultra sound and a biopsy. I had them calling me in absolute panic.. she was going to die.. :( So off I trott out there 2 hour drive uggg armed with all the books/pamphlets, well carefully selected ones she is scared enough, you know the ones you get when you are diagnosed (remember them?? I could make a library lol ) and Nat's BCNA My journey,
I spent a couple of hours over there today explaining the next steps/tests that has to happen first and she is feeling a lot calmer well a bit anyway lol
I still want to yell at this doc
I'm so cross my niece's step mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer on Thursday but before she got the results from the breast surgeon, her gp had the results and called her in (urgent appointment) told her she has breast cancer and it was in both boobs and she had better go home and get her affairs in order, asking her questions like do you have a will? you had better go to see a solicitor and get a medical power of attorney sorted ..
OMG all she has had an ultra sound and a biopsy. I had them calling me in absolute panic.. she was going to die.. :( So off I trott out there 2 hour drive uggg armed with all the books/pamphlets, well carefully selected ones she is scared enough, you know the ones you get when you are diagnosed (remember them?? I could make a library lol ) and Nat's BCNA My journey,
I spent a couple of hours over there today explaining the next steps/tests that has to happen first and she is feeling a lot calmer well a bit anyway lol
I still want to yell at this doc
16 Replies
- Thanks Cosette I was onto it straight away and she has received it all ready <3 she will join this site on weekend after they get the internet sorted out .
- Hi @"Scared Mum", I'm sorry to hear your that your niece's stepmother was diagnosed with breast cancer and that the news were so poorly delivered. She's lucky to have you. If she hasn't already done so, she can order a My Journey Kit, or you can order it for her with permission. You can order it online here or give us a call at 1800 500 258.
- Agreed ladies this doctor is a douche bag :/ Her specialist has written him a well worded letter to put him back in his place, so hopefully he will tell the next lady with some more tact.
After talking to her and her family now I wish I had followed through with nursing so I could do that for a career :'( oh well !!
Thanks Ladies <3
cheers Sue - Horrible gp....most insensitive and unprofessional :#
Glad she has you armed with facts and loads of compassion!
Agree with others that at time of diagnosis we need facts and hope...not doom and gloom before we even begin treatment. - I agree @Ne no one wants to start their fight by feeling like they have already been defeated. Horrible doctor!
- @Brenda5 sorry but I disagree. There is a time and place yes even after diagnosis for talking wills, legalities etc. and getting stuff in order but definitely not at the same time as your diagnosis where you have just found out you have breast cancer. It is the worst timing in my opinion and highly insensitive on the docter's part. He is not a specialist, he is merely a 'messenger' giving the diagnosis and has no idea of her prognosis at that moment. His job was to reassure her and at the most give her the cancer council's helpline number and a referral to a specialist. Also the last thing you want or should be having to hear when receiving your diagnosis are how many people don't survive. You need to give the person hope. People are told to get their affairs in order when they have been through treatment for or at a terminal diagnosis, and are only done after a specialist has done proper scans, biopsies and thorrough testing. This doctor in my opinion is a douche bag!
- I can sort of see both sides of the argument and I think I vaguely recall my Dr asking did I have a will as it can be a long drawn out thing fighting cancer and I didn't need to be worrying about legalities while I was being treated.
I did have a will so it wasn't an issue but throughout life we do get little wake up calls and should address those sorts of things early, before we are pumped up full of painkilling drugs. I think even in the hospital forms there was a do not resuscitate section to fill in if I wanted it. Breast cancer can be a very serious thing and although many of us (89%) do survive 5yrs or more, we need to be mindful of the other percentage that don't. They cannot comment on this forum. - What a terrible doctor!. One thing that came with my hospital welcome pack was a brochure for a funeral service and my daughter quickly screwed it up and put it in the bin.
- Yep, I too would be questioning the GP and his lack of bedside manner !
How dare he suggest that she "get her affairs in order" ?? !!
That is simply unprofessional and highly insensitive.
I would be asking for an appointment with this GP - if he is the family GP and had previously had a good relationship - and go with a support person only AFTER she has seen her surgeon armed with facts.
Thank goodness she has good support from people like you.
Please let her know about this site - it may also help to alleviate some of her fears and answer a few questions. - How awful, I'd change gp's! My gp was lovely when she told me. I could see her putting off telling me, she kept dancing around the test results and she was actually more upset than I was when she finally did. That's why she's been my gp for something like 30 years! :)
