"Annual Breast Cancer Review"

I have had cancer (Breast Cancer) for several years and have been cared for by several services including Medical Oncology, Clinical Oncology, Breast Surgeons, General Practice and Maggie's. My care has been good in many aspects, but the appointments with the Breast Surgery team have been poor and have got increasingly poor over the years. After my most recent appointment I will not be going back, despite the fact that I have several yearly reviews still due to occur.

The BC Nurses and the ANP staff, alongside the Radiology staff in Mammography, have been great. But the surgeons have been dismissive and lacking in compassion. Their communication skills have been poor, for example: using euphemisms for cancer, demonstrating no empathy for my initial diagnosis and subsequent complications, being derogatory about other professionals, and giving incorrect information about my results.

I feel the service has deteriorated: investigations that were previously recommended (by the department itself) for me on a yearly basis have been withdrawn, and same day results (mammogram) and same day follow up (ultrasound for areas of concern) are no longer offered. When asking for more information about this, it was implied that I was being unnecessarily anxious, and there was no acknowledgement that the goalposts had been changed and I was told to just go home.

I understand that due to funding issues that services may have worsened, but this should be explained with honesty and compassion, not with gaslighting by pretending there has been no change at all, particularly when it is clear from notes that what I was saying could be verified.

My impression is that with the employment of the specialist nursing staff (BCNs and ANPs), the medical staff no longer see communication skills, empathy or patient centred care as their role.