“When I had a really bad day, experiencing frightening sudden pain I knew who to call, my fourth emergency service – my Dougie Mac team.”

In the Autumn of 2024, Tansy experienced some pain in her ribs. Her GP sent her for an X-ray which revealed a shadow on her lung. After a CT scan and a biopsy, Tansy was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer that had metastasised to her lymph nodes and ribs. A further scan revealed cancer in Tansy’s spine, femur and liver – a total of 11 tumours.

“The doctor who phoned me was clearly very sorry to deliver the news that it was inoperable and incurable but I began a course of chemotherapy and immunotherapy with a view to reducing the tumours as much as possible and reaching a period of stability.  It’s easy to fall into a sense that we’re going to beat this, and I do live in hope. But there’s no getting away from the words “Palliative Care” on all my hospital letters.

“After my diagnosis I felt anger, grief, a sense of loss, lonely and confused. My life has become dominated by the three big Cs. Cancer, Chemo and Control. I can’t control the cancer or the chemo, or the many ways that cancer and chemo affect my everyday life. But I can control my attitude and how I live what life I may have.  I choose to foster a positive mental attitude as much as I can and that is why I asked my GP for a referral to Dougie Mac.

“As part of that referral I was automatically triaged by the Community team.  My Nurse Laura came to visit me and we nattered at length.  We continue to have regular phone calls so she can keep up to date on how I am and what’s happening with my cancer care. I felt like a fraud as the chemo really wasn’t affecting me as badly as you might imagine from the pictures in the movies. I appeared fit and well and was taken up the valuable time of a Dougie Mac nurse. But we were building a relationship and I felt cared for and important. She never made me feel rushed or just a number. And when I had a really bad day, experiencing frightening sudden pain I knew who to call, my fourth emergency service – my Dougie Mac team. One of Laura’s colleagues took my call and I felt re-assured and calm straight away. Laura came to visit me and we talked things through and she arranged a prescription through my GP. I am so grateful for the patient centred care that the Dougie Mac Community team deliver – I really feel cared for.

“A few days later the pain returned and in panic my husband took me to the hospital. 12 hours later I was discharged with a prescription for a strong opioid pain killer.  This had been administered while I was being treated that day and while it was very affective it also made me sleep. I had no idea how I was going use this in a practical way and still have any life, let alone keep my part time job.  While updating my Dougie Mac Community Team on the latest turn of events they suggested a practical way to use other pain medications to manage my pain regularly, and only using the hospital prescribed opioid if the pain became unmanageable again. They even suggested another separate way to manage my pain that is really practical when I go away at weekends to spend quality time making memories with my nearest and dearest.  By doing this the Dougie Mac Community Team helped me take back control and empowered me to live a fulfilling life.

“Meanwhile, the Wellbeing Team have been helping me with practical and emotional matters. Leah has been helping me to think about and plan my future care. If or when the time comes that I can’t look after myself and I’m admitted to the hospice I’ll never get mustard in my ham sandwich! But more importantly my family won’t feel like they’ve failed me if they forget to tell the staff that I don’t like mustard or horseradish!

“Leah has also signposted me to places where I can plan my funeral so I can help my loved ones with one of the most difficult things they’ll ever have to do.

“And for my peace of mind, Leah is helping me with my digital legacy, organising safe ways to store passwords, and different solutions to save hundreds of digital photos from being lost forever.

“There are also an ever growing range of classes, workshops and social groups. There is something for everyone. I’m not very good in social situations so coffee mornings fill me with dread, but I recognise that I might find it beneficial to mix with people who are going through a similar experience as me, so I’ve signed up for a Craft Class!

“My cancer journey continues to throw challenges at me and if things all get just too much I know that Dougie Mac have counselling services too. 

“Talking to someone like Leah at Dougie Mac’s Wellbeing services about future matters is a relief as loved ones often don’t want to talk about the inevitable, and even when they do we don’t know where to start. This service has been invaluable in pointing me in the right direction, helping me to plan, alleviating worry and helping me take back some control.

“Its not just a hospice. It’s a lifeline.

“It’s not just end of life care – it’s life support from the point of diagnosis.”