Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital
Colney Lane, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7UYContact details and Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
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Review titled Be Aware for Outstanding Care!
Rated 5 stars out of 5
by Use my 'real' name - Posted on 05 February 2024
I was unlucky enough to have two consecutive, unrelated cancers. The first to be treated was a kidney cancer for which I had a partial nephrectomy in July 2022 and the second a sigmoid cancer for which I undertook a colectomy in late November of that year. Although there were 'glitches' in events leading up to both procedures, these occurred elsewhere. No excuse for the radiologist who wrote in their report that my bowel showed 'no stenosing mass' and only signs of 'diverticulitis' when a later colonoscopy showed Stage 3 cancer. So, I underwent the kidney nephrectomy (July 22) whilst suffering the ill effects of rectal cancer and delaying the colectomy. Also, my nephrectomy which was partial, might have been radical since the paperwork had obviously been muddled up. However, in mitigation my kidney procedure was outstanding. The surgeon - in view of having to switch the procedure - was absolutely wonderful. Both of us were shaken but he immediately thanked me and was with me the entire journey even coming to my bedside with a photograph on his iPhone of the cancer post op. Done laparoscopically the marks are now invisible. I was told I would be given 'the best' operation and I believe I was. Then, at the end of November, I underwent a colectomy by open surgery. The surgeon under whose jurisdiction it was carried out was incredibly empathetic in allowing me not to have a covering ileostomy which I knew I couldn't cope with in addition to suffering severe scalp eczema/psoriasis. I do realise there is a risk if the cancer is rectal of anastomoses but both consultant and team allowed the procedure to go ahead without. I have been beyond grateful and there has been no problem whatever with the workings of the bowel or waterworks. I was unlucky, in that my wound from belly button to groin, opened up an had to be dehisced but very lucky in that it healed from the bottom up in time to undertake chemotherapy. That wasn't any walk in the park but the specialist nurses and oncologist were outstanding. I couldn't take the full length chemo treatment but my last tests have all been negative. Hooray! Thank you NNUH my mentioning the 'glitches' is meant to be helpful and to encourage all to look carefully at their own paperwork and what they are signed up to because everyone is stretched to the limit. Perhaps it is a systemic problem with slightly redundant centralised ways of working. Maybe AI will sort much of it. The medics at NNUH are outstanding. We are very lucky indeed.
Visited Urology on July 2022
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital has not yet replied.
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