"Support and understanding just wasn't there"

The decision to have  a prostatectomy was one of the worst mistakes I ever made. I was diagnosed in my local hospital and the process was made that little bit easier by the kindness and understanding of the nurses and doctors involved.  Unfortunately I chose to have a prostatectomy and that support and understanding just wasn’t there at the Hallamshire.

I was made to feel small and insignificant by the Cancer nurse I was allocated and I suspect they shared this view with their fellow nurses and the doctor as well because of the way they interacted with me. I was an anxious patient, I will not deny that, but instead of being available to help me through difficult times my concerns were dismissed. At my lowest point I asked if I could see the consultant to be told no. No explanation other than they wouldn’t be able to fit me in . I will never know if they could have made time for me as the nurse never asked them. At this point I began to doubt my decision to have surgery as I feel I was having to handle my concerns without the support I was entitled to.

I am at the moment cancer free but the journey could have been that much easier if the Nurses who were paid to support me had shown me just a bit more compassion and understanding, qualities they appeared to lack when dealing with me.