"No one should face cancer alone" "For cancer support, every step of the way" What.A.crock.of.shit. Who are macmillan? What do they even do with all the millions raised for them every damn day? Lisa you have cancer, your 'dedicated' (and i use that word loosely) macmillan nurse is Claire. She will be your first point of call for anything. Nothing too big or small. Unfortunately for them, I'm like an elephant, and I NEVER forget. Don't be promising me shit that you cannot deliver. Good old claire has been non existent since diagnosis, and I have had to rely upon the ONE other macmillan nurse available to me. Of course when I say rely upon, I actually mean, useless, bull shitting, qualified blagger. I can sit here and type to you the voicemail they use. I have heard it THAT many times.. "Hi you have reached the voicemail of Antia *protects surname* and claire *protects surname* Macmillan gynae oncology clinical specialist nurse.." Alright, so I cant remember it all, but I have called at least 50 times this week. Since my last post celebrating being taken seriously, and being told that a CT scan was booked; LIES. It was a Thursday. They said that the scan was requested, and that a letter would follow early the following week. Why do they insist on posting letters? Surely appointments are accessed pretty instant these days. Everything is recorded and booked through a computer. Send an Email confirmation? Send a text? Grrr. No letter came. I felt at the time, as though Tuesday was being a bit impatient, so I waited until Wednesday before calling to chase it up. This time, there was no voicemail available. Whether they forgot to turn it on, or whether it was full... I dont know. Either way I didn't get to talk to my favourite robot. I couldn't be bothered to sit and press redial all afternoon, in the hope someone would walk by, hear the ringing, and pick up. So I called the switchboard. Northampton General uses an automated (another machine) voice control service, so if you know the name of the person you want to talk to, you're winning. After going round the houses from oncology reception, the Luke radiotherapy building, to a rather rude radiography department. I finally had a brainwave and went back to the switchboard. "Dr Mak Secretary". It worked. Ha Ha Ha. He He He. Feeling all accomplished. 💆 why didn't I just try this to begin with!? Deapite my successful telephone ringing, everything else was a complete flop. No scan had been requested. No information, or my complaints of pain had been recorded. Dr Mak was not aware I had made any contact since my last appointment. Good one macmillan. Really taking care of me. I spent the next 15 minutes explaining my situation to my new found contact, Michelle, and put it all on her to get someone to call me back. No call back came, standard, so first thing Thursday morning (yes we are a week on), I called them. It wasn't even 9am when I called, and I expected to talk to the machine; but by some miracle, a human being answered the phone. Not just any old human being. It was Claire!! My 'dedicated' Macmillan gynae oncology specialist. Well I never. Claire! Wow. I thought you had jumped shipped and no longer worked for the department... Needless to say, she was not impressed by my sarcastic tone. Needless to say, I could not give a shit. Cutting an endlessly long story short, a phone placed on a desk (presumably they don't have a hold button?!), and me being able to hear everything. Between the two nurses they came up with a story. The reason that my scan wasn't booked, is because they weren't sure whether I would benefit from a CT or an MRI, and this would need to be discussed with my oncologist.🤔 Of course now Dr Mak is on holiday - until Monday - so frig all will be done until her return. No other oncologist will make the decision, apparently, as Dr Mak knows me best. 🤔🤔😒 Fumimg, I accepted their excuses and went on to call Michelle, the Secretary. I just HAD to check that Dr Mak was actually out of the building. She was. Lucky for them. Monday soon came around, and did anyone call me? No. So again it was down to me to chase them up. A second miracle occured, and Anita picked up the phone on my first call. It was around half 3, and she hadn't yet had the opportunity to talk to Dr Mak about my scan. However she was scheduled to see Dr Mak tomorrow.. so promised to call me then. Yes I know, It's getting boring now. Tuesday came and went. Wednesday came and went. My patience came and went. Several voicemails later, shared between the Secretary, and Macmillan. I finally got hold of Michelle. She can't really help me. 😒 I need to talk to Macmillan. Well yes, that would be nice. If they would actually return my calls. She sent an email on my behalf asking someone, anyone to call me back. Thursday - AGAIN. I carry out my usual 2 hourly voicemails. Then from 2:30 onwards I called every 30 minutes. Finally just after 5pm I got a call back! It's been decided. I will have an MRI scan and not a CT scan. Then depending on the results of the MRI, then they may also do a CT 😩 After re reviewing my previous MRI images, it has become apparent that I actually have bone damage to my pelvis, and spinal lumbar. First I've heard. They believe that my cause of pain is because of this. I don't agree. So here we are, Saturday morning. Waiting on the post man. Maybe a third miracle will be blessed my way, and a letter will drop through my door with a date. Failing that, come Monday, I'll be back on the phone. 📞☏☎📱 I won't hold my breath though, as Anita has skipped off on holiday until July, and that leaves me in the hands of Claire; who evidently does not work Monday's (also questionable on the other days). If I can't get through to anyone, the plan is to go back through the switchboard to the MRI department. Act the innocent. Say my letter is lost, and I need to inform work of when I will be needing the time off. Hopefully.... HOPEFULLY... my name will be on the list, and I can then get my name down for any cancellations. Not usually one to wish a weekend away, but, roll on Monday.
