The NHS must adapt now to care for older cancer patients

I think every patient should be offered the best treatment for their needs. This should not be based on age. We need more staff who will explain outcomes so that all patients understand the merits of treatments offered to them. Care packages should be available to maximise recovery.

The NHS is under such unbelievable pressure and everyone in the medical field is doing such a fantastic job in helping the patients in their patience and kindness towards everyone. We need extra funding and I feel that the patients who can afford to maybe could help by paying a little towards their treatment.

I’d like to think that a lot of people the the NHS has helped survive cancer would at least leave a benefit of there will,when the time arises to depart from this world.I do appreciate not everyone is in that position but those that can should perhaps that could boost cancer research funds.

As a cancer patient I would agree I also would like to be involved in MDT meetings that involve my care as with everything else by the time I get any test results these have already been discussed and my care decided without me knowing the outcome until I have an app which sometimes can be weeks after test ?

We need to train Drs for when we first begin going to them .’re breathing pains lose of weight extrem tiredness.i was going over a year. Given that many different inhalers it was untrue.tablets for chest Infection 5 times.nibulizer 4 times .still never sent for x-ray.ashma nurse called Dr into her room 3 times .it was her that ASK the Dr to send me for a x-ray.he was not to happy about it but agreed. The nurse got me appointment right away .and then it all began pet scan etc with in 4 weeks on was In broad green having major surgery. To have part of my lung removed ‘re cancer . no support on coming out.was rushed back into hospital 6 times in the 7 months very I’ll. All I received was a few phones calls .

I’ve had cancer and the NHS saved me. We need the men and women who treat and look after us .

My mother got ovarian cancer stage 3/4 when she was 76 and survived it until aged 81.. if you need me to sign a petition that goes to the government.. please submit and I’ll be more than happy to sign it.. thank you for your very informative emails and all the absolutely wonderful work you continue to do xx

My wife died of a late diagnosed lung cancer aged 70. Despite type 2 diabetes she was otherwise healthy and active and had never smoked. . She had been seeing her usual GP regularly and over the course of a year had complained of various shoulder, neck and pelvic pains, tiredness and breathlessness. She had also had long term cough but there was no record of this in her notes. She was treated with a targeted medication and was not given any choice of surgery or general chaemo. the cancer was in one lobe of her lungs and there was no definite proof of a spread . Despite initial improvement and few side effects she took a turn for the worse after about four and half months and died a few weeks later while awaiting approval for a drug trial. Her death raised several concerns for me: Because she was non smoker I think lung cancer was not considered. her usual GP was relying on blood tests which told her “something was going on” but she was not allowed to send her for a general body scan to find out what. The problem was identified by another GP who simply tapped her back (old fashioned medicine?) and send her straight for an X ray.. 4 days later she was admitted from the surgery by ambulance as an emergency to have 2 L of fluid drained from her lung. We were not offered any surgical or general chaemo options and were too stunned to ask or challenge anything. Cancer is a mutation and it seems to me that reliance on a targeted treatment for one cell type, however initially effective, does not preclude further mutations which might have been prevented by a more general radio or chaemotherapy. Maybe over reliance on blood tests, ignoring basic diagnostic tools and X rays and apparently not being able to request full body scans where something is suspected led to an unnecessary early death.

I think that possibly more staff are needed to help older people when they have had treatment and through their recovery time, however long it takes. Not just carers but people who also have knowledge and training with dealing with cancer. I know personally, that without the help of my family, partner, and son, I would not have coped well alone., and I don’t consider myself to be old. Older people who live alone would struggle to cope with feeding themselves,shopping, and also washing shopping etc. Defiantly need help, and in knowing help is available to them would make a person feel that they can accept treatment treatmentknowing helps available.

I am currently receiving treatment for prostate cancer, and have been doing so for the past five years. The NHS has been nothing short of brilliant in the handling of my case, and continue to be so. The staff are friendly and put one at ease(I am eighty-two). I have had no trouble so far in acquiring such medication as is required (apart from standing in a queue to obtain it), and I feel that I am ticking along nicely. I know that I can’t be cured, but, so far, it has not stopped my normal activities – I am a walker and progress some 1500 / 1700 miles a year, so very well done the NHS, and the STAMPEDE Cancer Research trials for keeping me on the go.

In my experience the NHS approach to cancer care needs a radical overhaul regardless of the age of it’s victims. Bullying, browbeating and emotional blackmail to co-erce patients into accepting treatment coupled with a lack of information seems to be the norm. It now appears that the get out clause for poor performance is lack of staff, or lack of funds when in reality poor communication skills and insufficient training must also play a part. The NHS has had a ‘one size fits all’ mentality for years and that has to change, there is no doubt that the NHS has done incredible things over the years but it has become old and out dated.

I am a baby boomer. Went to school, class sizes had doubled. Jobs were plentiful.I was never unemployed. Governments of all parties have never made any provision for the need for housing, schooling, and infrastructure. it was all a reaction. Now wwe have an ageing population the result is the same. TheGovernment seems preoccupied with Austerity, and the results have now become into full blown crisis in all services. Particularly the health service. There was 60 years notice this was going to happen.
Only God and the dedication of the Workers in the NHS, and other services has saved us from a complete collapse. God help us all, we are not dying fast enough.

I agree with Tony, & I’ll keep up my donations, my friends have been helped by caring and sensative treatments. Thank you all for helping

I agree any improvements to cancer care is great if a bit slow.
One area I come across on a regular basis is after care, patients that have had successful treatment and are very grateful for the care they received feel that when you are given the “all clear” and need no further treatment you leave the hospital feeling over the moon, but it soon becomes a feeling of what has my life got in store.
You cant stop your mind working and cancer is always with you it’s such a strong word that whatever people say can never be forgotten.
I felt worried and alone for a long time before seeking help and it caused a lot of stress.
I feel that the hospitals should offer back-up referrals perhaps every two years to patients just to put their minds at rest, just a 10 minute consultation once in a while could mean so much to a patient and their family.

A very good article.
I shall continue with my Monthly Donations

Very very good

My mother died recently aged 91. Prior to her death she developed a type of blood cancer. I just want to say that the treatment she received on the NHS was excellent and helped to extend her life for a while. I agree with the sentiment expressed in the earlier article but wanted to give an example how good care was not rationed due to age and other health problems she had.

Interesting

This is my second comment. I have recently had Papylon treatment at Clatterbridge Hospital on the Wirral.
What an excellent place, the staff are so fantastic & the treatment is excellent.
I am 80 years old with unfortunately other ailments but the treatment I have had has been brilliant. So Thank you NHS & I sincerely hope that you get more support from the government than is currently offerred

What an excellent article, thank you, but I cannot fully accept the statement that cancer is age related, I know a lot of younger people with or have had cancer. Babies & children also diagnosed.

Yes it sounds like a good idea to carry out multidisciplinary assessments on older patients, but I worry that with the current waiting periods, following this route will only delay any agreed treatment. I am 76 and my husband is 81 and we get quite despondent as a result of the negativity around the NHS these days. Well done to Cancer Research UK – keep up the good work, we are very pleased to be a supporter.

I am an older patient with cancer and I have an appointment today I have to travel a long way for the appointment and often see a doctor for just a couple of minutes and nothing is resolved but I am just grateful for the treatment that I have had and I am over three score and ten and I think the focus should be on the young

A very sensitively written and clear assessment.