‘Patients were scared of their cancer treatment being delayed’
Deborah Konu, 41, from Hertfordshire Macmillan Physiotherapist Head of Therapies Cancer Care
orking with cancer patients is emotional but rewarding in normal times, but stress levels went through the roof this year. Patients were scared that surgery and treatment would be delayed for months because of the pandemic. And some were having to receive bad news or undergo treatment without being accompanied by loved ones.
My husband is an anaesthetist so at the height of the first outbreak he went to live elsewhere to protect me and our boys, Daniel, 12, and David, eight. I also lost my 90-year-old uncle to Covid, and know how devastating it felt not visiting him.
I did catch Covid and because of my autoimmune disease, lupus, I was very poorly and off work for eight weeks. It was frustrating not being able to physically help others, but I worked remotely.
Working for the NHS over the Christmas period is normal, but this year I have the day itself off. Waking up with my boys is all I want for Christmas. This year has put life into perspective.’