Good evening everyone,
My 87 year old mother started a course of Radiotherapy treatment to treat as palliative care an infiltrative Adenocarcinoma three weeks ago.
After the first seven days of treatment my mum was complaining of backache and ended up with a bad lumbago attack that kept her in bed up until now. She'has started walking a little bit but still not fit enough to continue with the treatment. At all times her Doctor was informed about her condition and he told us to wait a bit until she got better. The Doctor gave me an appointment for this morning just in case she was feeling better but when I rang this morning to informed him that my mum was still not well enough to go, the receptionist said her Doctor does no longer works there and her new Doctor will call me back.
When she finally rang me she said she gives her a couple of more days and if she doesn't come they will cancel the treatment and she will not longer be able to restart the treatment, even when she gets better. I told her that we are dealing with an 87 year old lady with a bad lumbago attack she is in bed most of the time she is getting better but very slowly, she must understand, but she said she understands but if she doesn't come in the next couple of days she will not be able to be treated again.
Is it right what the Doctor is saying? When you interrupt a course of radiotherapy for more than two weeks you cannot be treated again? I felt like a fool for not knowing what to say and she was very firm about her decision. Tomorrow I am going to the Ombudsman to report it but in the meantime I wonder if any of you have experienced the same.
Thank you in advance.