"I was not alone"

I am a 66-year-old male, and I was diagnosed with rectal cancer just before Christmas and referred for radiotherapy at Ninewells, along with being prescribed chemo tablets over a five-week period every weekday.

Nothing can prepare you for being told you have the dreaded C word.

I felt down, depressed, and although I have a loving partner, family, and friends, I felt utterly alone.

Prior to going to get treatment, it’s safe to say there were tears, doubts, and fears. Trying to get my life sorted out in case the worst happened became a priority.

Then, in the last week of February, my treatment began. I arrived to get all my chemo tablets, gloves, thermometer, and anti-sickness tablets with trepidation but was met by a lovely nurse in the outpatients department who softly explained what everything was for and what was going to happen. Her warm personality reassured me that they knew exactly what was going on.

After that, I entered the radiology department and was met by a lot of patients drinking water. Jackie, the nurse, sat me down and gently told me what I had to do prior to treatment every day. I suddenly realised that I was not alone and that I was in safe hands.

I attended this department for the five weeks, and honestly, I can’t give the nursing staff in this department enough credit.

The reassurance, professionalism, and dedication are awesome. Their manner towards patients was always warm, reassuring, and comforting. I found that I put my total trust in them very easily in the first couple of days. They were always interested in you—how you were and if you were in discomfort.

I can’t remember all the names, but special thanks go to Bob, Jackie, Sam, and Wendy—just wonderful genuine people. They all deserve a mention, to be honest.

I finished my last treatment today, and I can honestly say I never wanted to be there or wanted to meet these dedicated people. But it was with a tinge of sadness that I said goodbye.

Would I change anything in my treatment? Not at all. This department is a credit to the NHS. If the rest of the NHS is run like this, then we should have nothing to fear. We should be very grateful and shout it out loud.

Well done guys!