Oncology

1-2 weeks later Brenda and I attend consultation onocologist DR Barbara Stanley , Professor Cameron’s senior registrar . she started off by informing brenda that she was sorry to inform her that the cancer had spread to her liver and bones.  We advised Dr Stanley that we were already aware , having already been informed by DR Kilcarni.

Dr Stanley appeared very surprised by this she also appeared to be somewhat at a loss when we told her DR Kilcarni had told us. He would revisit the possibility of masectomy if treatment proved helpful.

We went no to inform DR Stanley of the consultation we had with DR Oliver Young telling Brenda, it was only a small reoccurring primary breast cancer. it is not possible to how DR Stanley came across at hearing this she made a very sincere and compassionate from the heart apology on behalf of the NHS. Brenda had a full physical examination by DR Stanley, she enquired whether Brenda had been suffering any back , hip , pelvic pains Brenda confirmed she had been diagnosed with wear & tear in back, hip pelvis after receiving an x-ray DR Stanley again apologised and told her these were symtoms of bone cancer, not wear & tear.

During this same consultation with DR Stanley there were 2 breast care nurses present. Mary Raphael along with a trainee A significant part of this consultation was taken up by DR Stanley apologising for the NHS failures Mary Raphael could clearly see how upset we where, she approached Brenda saying to help we should forget the past focus on the future, again DR Stanley in a very compassionate manor asked us if we were aware that she was no longer cureable. We advised her that after our consultation with DR Kilcarni, our daughter had already identified this through the internet. Mary followed up by informing Brenda that she would live for several / many years, that the condition was highly treatable. During same appointment DR Stanley excused herself from the room informing us she was going to confer with a another colleague when she returned sne was accompanied with DR Peter Hall. DR Hall was of the opinion that it would not be appropriate to start Brenda off with chemotherapy, feeling she would not tolerate it very well. Brenda and I did not know who was making the decision we also did not know how DR Hall had managed managed to assess Brenda’s suitability for chemo. The conclusion was, DR Hall decided to start brenda on a targeted therapy drug called Palbociclib, Brenda and I were later to discover this was a costly error by both onocologists.

Treatment

Sadly things go from bad to worse. Soon after starting treatment on palbociclib. Brenda had an appointment with DR Stanley we were extremely shocked to be informed that one of the mets on Brenda’s liver was alarmingly large, 7cm however a number of weeks later during a consultation with DR Hall he contradicted this, claiming the largest met on the liver was approx 2.5cm DR Hall went on to say the size of a met was of know significant relevance. Brenda and I knew through research that this was simply not the case. We were also unable to confirm or identify which was accurate throughout Brenda’s entire treatment inconsistances and contradictions were prevalent.

Palbociclib

Treatment with palbociclib continues, Brenda tolerates it well with some complications regarding her white blood cells. During an assessment appointment with DR Stanley we were informed that the palbociclib was not working. She advised Brenda that she felt it was time to consider moving on to chemotherapy. We were given an information package and consent document to take home and read over.