Diagnosed with skin cancer once again, I had surgery within a few weeks. I was glad to have such fast and friendly treatment. But horrified at the short hospital stay after what seemed to me as major surgery of over 10 hours leaving me quite bandaged and bloodied.
Unfortunately the repairs didn't take, I felt I had no access to daily medical assistance but it may just have been due to bad luck. I needed further surgery within a couple of months and continued to have appointments in Perth, 600km away, including 6 weeks radiation therapy and then follow up appointments with the plastic surgeons. I continued to meet with the plastic surgery and prosthetics teams, getting a glue on skin for my sealed but open cancer removal wound, before undergoing further surgery around 18 months after original surgery. For the radiation therapy, I felt PATS was helpful and I even had access to accommodation. But as each process went on I found out that as I understand it, I need updated GP referrals for surgeons and PATS, even though it was the same ongoing issue.
Each consecutive surgery has required one night hospital stay or day treatment, I'm getting used to the lack of expected pain. But not the stares from people in the common areas, shopping malls or local medical facilities. Seemingly requiring extra referrals from GPs is the biggest puzzle to me
This adds to my frustration and new fears of being disfigured in public, making appointments and having to continually explain myself. I have given up on PATS as I feel it is more stressful than it could be.
I'm not working due to my appearance, the refunds would be helpful. I think all records are on the public hospitals system - appointments and attendance, the timeline of same treatment plan etc, but it seems to me the patient must seek further outside reference and public waiting rooms to guarantee a payment.
A couple years on, my treatment is far from complete. But I continue to need a GP to write a referral and update them with my information because apparently the hospital system and PATS require it. Emotionally and physically I am not in the greatest place, and not any easier with what I believe to be a difficult system.
The best part of my journey? Covid19. Why? It made it normal to wear a mask in public, the streets and parks were empty while I had radiation therapy and it is more normal to require contactless grocery delivery. Are the hospital and radiation staff who I dealt with friendly? Yes. Does the referral system need changes? In my opinion, yes.
"Ongoing cancer treatment"
About: Fiona Stanley Hospital / Chemotherapy Unit, Cancer Centre, Cancer Outpatients Clinic, Bone Marrow Transplant, Oncology, Radiation Oncology & Ward 7C Fiona Stanley Hospital Chemotherapy Unit, Cancer Centre, Cancer Outpatients Clinic, Bone Marrow Transplant, Oncology, Radiation Oncology & Ward 7C Murdoch 6150 Patient Assisted Travel Scheme - WACHS Goldfields Patient Assisted Travel Scheme - WACHS Goldfields Kalgoorlie 6430
Posted by Carcinoma19 (as ),
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