August last year I presented to Bunbury ED with kidney stones.
A Ultrasound was ordered and during the scan they found an unrelated mass on my abdominal wall.
After much deliberation it was decided to wait 3 months to see if the mass had grown.
November I presented for an ultrasound and mass had grown so I was then sent for a CT.
During this CT it was discovered that I also had a mass in my Bile duct/liver.
December I was told the news that I had cancer that was presenting as Cholangiocarcinoma, was inoperable, incredibly aggressive and that things were serious.
I was sent for a MRI and then my biopsy was booked by Fiona Stanley Hospital for early January.
The reason by the long wait is it was Christmas and this certain procedure had to be done at a FSH.
I had my port put in the first week of January.
The following week I had my first Oncologist appointment where I was told my biopsy results were not back in full and that the ones that had returned were not consistent with Cholangiocarcinoma.
So I repeated baseline CT & blood tests again later that week.
I also on this day received a call from FSH to say that I would now need another biopsy but this time of my liver tumour.
I have been recognised as a Cat 1 patient and they would try and get me in for my liver biopsy in the next month.
The phone call had been made whilst I was travelling to Busselton for my CT as Bunbury Hospital Capital Radiology do not bulk bill oncology patients for scans.
This was in fact my second trip to Busselton as my initial appointment, when I arrived and was called in the CT machine broke down, so I needed to drive 40 minutes home to return the following day.
It is now late January and I have not been given a date yet for the liver biopsy.
My chemo has been cancelled until there is a definitive result.
Today is 51 days since I was told I have a very aggressive cancer and am no closer to starting treatment then I was 6 weeks ago.
If it is 1 month till biopsy and 2 weeks for results to return then I will be baseline testing again for the third time.
I am scared for my family that this process has taken so long that it will be uncontrollable and no one seems in a hurry to help me.
"Cancer Diagnosis"
About: Bunbury Hospital / Surgical Ward Bunbury Hospital Surgical Ward Bunbury 6230 Fiona Stanley Hospital Fiona Stanley Hospital Murdoch 6150
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