I was forced to spend my life savings on cancer op in England
New waiting times scandal
A WOMAN was forced to use her life savings to travel to England for cancer treatment amid spiralling waiting lists in Scotland.
Mags McCaul, from Lanarkshire, was diagnosed with a stage three ovarian cancer in August after experiencing bloating and abdominal pain.
After four chemotherapy sessions, the 50-year-old had surgery in England after facing a 12-week wait in Scotland.
She was forced to take the drastic step as cancer waiting times continue to lengthen across Scotland, with a report showing 41 per cent of women reported waiting more than three months for a diagnosis. Ms McCaul’s last scan in February showed no sign of the disease but she lives in fear of its recurrence and wants improvements to treatment options and diagnosis times.
She spoke out as the Target Ovarian Cancer charity reported that a quarter of those with the disease, which affects around 600 women in Scotland each year, visited their GP three times or more before being referred for tests.
Fewer than half were asked about the impact on their mental health despite the ‘devastating’ impact of the cancer.
The report concluded that progress is possible if the Scottish Government urgently addresses the shortcomings in diagnosis and treatment. Ms McCaul said: ‘There are a number of things that the
Scottish Government need to address when it comes to ovarian cancer. Access to surgery is an unacceptable issue that affects the overall landscape of care that’s being provided in Scotland.
‘This needs to change. If my husband and I hadn’t used our life savings, I would have only just had my surgery. It’s a scary thought.
‘Another is support for women who have ovarian cancer. Women need to have access to support and a choice to take it or leave it, and I think it would be great if there was an automated referral process from the GP or secondary care team.’
The charity is calling for a combination of national symptoms awareness campaigns and more training for GPs which will lead to earlier diagnosis.
Other symptoms include urinary issues, extreme fatigue and unexplained weight loss.
Annwen Jones, the charity’s chief executive, said the delay in diagnosis was ‘unacceptable’.
She said: ‘While we recognise that Scotland is leading the way with the shortest diagnostic pathway, the delays to women being referred for tests are staggering.
‘We must do better and act faster to ensure women are getting the earliest possible diagnosis and earliest access to treatment, no matter where they live.
‘It’s very concerning too to hear from women that they aren’t asked about the impact their diagnosis has on their mental health.
‘We know how devastating this disease is and it is crucial they are signposted to the support that is needed to deal with the many challenges that come with an ovarian cancer diagnosis.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said cancer remains an NHS priority, adding: ‘Latest published data shows that the median wait for ovarian cancer patients in Scotland is 51 days from urgent suspicion of cancer referral to first treatment.’
‘Surgery access is unacceptable’