Cancer

[Captain Kong]

Last night on TV after the news on ITV was a progamme called EXPOSURE, about Cancers.
Very interesting.
eg. Liverpool has the Highest Lung Cancer rate and no survival rates in UK and europe.
There is No Government backed Screening for Lung Cancer.
It explained that if your Doctor sends you for an XRay to check if you are clear or not. Xrays do not detect Lung Cancer but only about 30% and then it is too late you are terminal by now.
A CT Scan is the best method for detecting Lung Cancer but they say it is too expensive, I would say that a loss of life is Very Expensive. The average cost of a CT Scan is around £300 to £600 So that is why there is No Government Screening Program. but I guess that that is only ten percent of the cost of a funeral.
Screening for Bowell Cancer is for people of a certain age, forget now, maybe over 60. but I am too old as it finishes at around 74.
There was a couple on, husband and wife, very sad, they are both terminal, He has Prostate cancer, too far gone, and she has bowell cancer that has spread to her liver and lungs. They never got the relevent scans earlier enough, now too late.
A man who had terminal Lung Cancer, never smoked in his life and spent all his time outdoors playing golf. The XRAYS said he was OK , a CT Scan would have shown up the cancer in time, he is dying.
You have to have a PSA check regularly, for the Prostate Cancer to stand a chance.
I have an MOT every year with blood tests, Liver and Kydney Function tests, Diabetes, sugar tests, Cholesterol tests, last year I also applied for a PSA Test as well . I recieved a phone call from my Doctors Surgery, A very Foreign eastern voice,,,Why you want PSA Test, me, Because I want to see if I am OK or not for Prostate. , You do not need one, I was 77 years old. I demand one, No you cannot have one you do not need it.
So when I saw the Nurse who takes the blood sample I told her I wanted one, No problem she said and put it on the list of Tests. fortunately I was clear. I do not trust Doctors anymore.
When I returned home last February from my life saving operation in Honolulu the Doctor there said, you have Odeama on the head and body of your Pancreas so when you get home have a CT Scan and check it out.
I showed my Doctor the notes from Honolulu, No you dont need one you will be OK.
I went home, a week later I got another Doctor and she sent me to a Private Hospital on the NHS within seven days and had a CTScan on my Pancreas and got the results in another 7 days. with two DVDs to keep.
So do not take any crap off your Doctor always get a Second opinion.and insist on the right treatment regardless of cost. It is your life Not your Doctors.
Cheers
Brian.

[Captain Kong]

The NHS gives each Doctors Surgery a Budget, so much money, depending on how many Patients he has on his books, Every time you see a Hospital Consultant or a scan, xray or any other consultaion the Surgery is charged the cost of it and it comes out of his budget.
So to save his money the Doctor tries not to send you for treatment.
Cheers
Brian,

[John Pruden]

brian I had two heart attacks on the 28 july this year still my own doctor has had no knowledge from the hospital???? I have had no mail from the nhs at all?a few years ago my father in law was in clatterbridge {cancer hospital} some kids in wards 8.9.10 all had lung cancer we now have one of the best in the country now for lung cancer. how many of us came into contact with asbestos in dry dock getting steam pipes lagged plus whatever was down the hatches cleaning them out? the point is in our life time we don't know what we have contacted through materials in jobs.jp

[Captain Kong]

Hi John, it was on again on North West News on Granada TV at 6pm tonight.
Liverpool has the worst Lung Cancer rates in the whole of europe. and by the time they find out with XRAYS it is too late to treat. They are very reluctant to use CT Scans because of the expense. So more people are dying .
Get onto your Doctor, shake him up, you should have had a report within days not months later. If the hospital you use is not to your liking then chose a better one, You have the right to chose which hospital you want to be treated at.
I will not go to Bolton Royal Hospital because of the way I have been treated in the past So I always go to Salford Royal Hospital 15 miles away, it is in the top two Hospitals in the country.
Do not take any crap off them, it is your right and it is your life.
There are far too many patients these days due to mass immigration, they cannot cope with the influx of five million immigants and all their dependants and on top of that Health tourists. Tell your Doctor do not ask.
Hope you get better treatment John, keep on top of them, it was your money that kept it going on your taxes and NI contributions, immigrants are taking your place in the hospital and have never contributed a penny.
Cheers
Brian

[happy daze john in oz]

I continue to hear of horror stories from UK about medical services and the lack of them in certain areas.
Saw my GP today with results of my annual grease and oil change, all A OK, good for another year.
There appears to be one very big difference between UK and Oz medical treatment. Here if anything we are over serviced. The greater majority of GP's will send you off for tests at the slightest sign of something not right. There is regular advertising inviting the public to get tests for a number of ailments and illneseses, the greater majority can be treated if caught in time.

[Louis the Amigo]

Hi Shipmates, My mate Laurie ex convoys has had more treatment/tests/ oparations from the N.H.S. than any one else I know, over the last 7 years he has been in an out of Captain Kong Sons ex hospital allmost weekly, if he had to pay ? he would be on the streets .The treatment is keeping him alive its priceless. say what you like about the N.H.S. but its the best we have!!! Without it many would not be here....

[Captain Kong]

It is an Excellent organisation , but unfortunately it is abused and cannot cope with the influx of our overseas guests , who come to this country with many ailments and diseases and do not contribute one penny..
Like any other organisation it cannot continue with that kind of abuse.
Last year when I was in hospital in Bolton I was the only Englishman on the ward. All I could hear was the language of the khyber.
That is not what we paid in for.
This year in Honolulu I had to pay for my operation. $51,457 US. eight days in there.
If our overseas guests require treatment in our Hospitals then they should have Insurance, Simple.
You should not expect anything for Nothing, some one has to pay.
Cheers
Brian.

[John Gill]

Reading through John in Oz's post regarding gp's referrals. Sometimes these referrals come about due to a number of factors ( in my experience, that is), a lack of knowledge in the patients complaint and 'jobs for the boys'. A gp cannot know ALL about EVERY component of the human body, but unlike Johns experience in Oz sometimes UK gp's will be reluctant to refer until a complaint either gets worse. (or goes away). Maybe this may be due to waiting list or practice targets or even the gp's inability to diagnose potentially life threatening symptoms in a patient. Like most on here of a certain age i have the annual mot plus ongoing monitoring and have few complaints about the treatment From the (many) health professionals i come into contact with. I now do a lot of stuff online- appointments, prescriptions, even book a chat with my gp. When a referral is suggested i'm given a wide choice of consultants, hospitals in my area and can even choose a time for an appointment. if i am prepared to travel a little out of my area the waiting time and choice is enhanced. This procedure even extends to hospital admissions for operations- choose your venue- even have a look at the hospitals consultants mortality rates! Also, there is also a system whereas if you register as being available in the case of a cancellation, the waiting time can be greatly reduced. Kong does mention the nhs using the private sector- usually to reduce the waiting time 'targets' of the patients practice. I was offered this facility last year for a urgent gall bladder removal ( shot to hell it was) at a clinic not too far from Boltonistan, but after discussion with my gp it was decided a no go as there was no emergency facilities available . Just as well really, i had the procedure at Warrington General and it didn't go too well although the morphine was a great comfort.
gilly

[Captain Kong]

Hi John
The best Hospitals for Gall Bladder removal and Liver and Pancreas diseases, [ all linked], are Leeds, Manchester Royal, one of the Liverpool ones I think it is Aintree Teaching Hospital, Birmingham, one of the London Teaching Hospitals and Portsmouth where my Lad is the Consultant Hepatologist. He deals with all those organs plus.
All the other Hospitals are classed as District Hospitals and do not have the expertise, skills, equipment or trainingg for an acute operation of that kind, They can do it but if you want the best then the ones mentioned are the Best.
My Gall Bladder was removed in February in Honolulu, excellent, The Surgeons and Doctors knew my son and discussed the case with him on the phone before the op. The Lad told me, they are the best in the whole Pacific area.
I was very confident and very happy with the outcome.
My Gall Bladder had turned Gangrene, it had blocked the Pancreatic duct and the enzymes were backed up into the Pancreas giving Severe Pancreaititus, They told me that without medication I had no more than four days to live, So I was very lucky to be where I was at the time.
I have had no problems since.
The nearest Liver problems Hospital to Wales is Birmingham, there are no specialist hospitals there for that kind of treatment if you want the best.
If you have problems always go to the hospital that specialises in that type of problem even if it is many miles away.
You will then get the correct treatment. not a botched job.
My mates wife is now terminal, may be gone by Christmas. Only 62,
She had gall bladder problems, Bolton said you cannot have an operation , or you will die, this has been going on for five years now. she has been in constant pain. I told her repeatedly what to do, but no. she trusted Bolton.
In June I told her, get to St James in Leeds, she went and they told her it was too late ,it had severely damaged her Liver and was now inoperable, The Liver disease is too far advanced to help her. could not have a transplant as the associated organs were also too damaged. She is now in a care home ..waiting the end..
.So do not listen to your local Doctors, Go to the best, the ones who specialise in that complaint.

Cheers
Brian.

[John Gill]

Hi John
The best Hospitals for Gall Bladder removal and Liver and Pancreas diseases, [ all linked], are Leeds, Manchester Royal, one of the Liverpool ones I think it is Aintree Teaching Hospital, Birmingham, one of the London Teaching Hospitals and Portsmouth where my Lad is the Consultant Hepatologist. He deals with all those organs plus.
All the other Hospitals are classed as District Hospitals and do not have the expertise, skills, equipment or trainingg for an acute operation of that kind, They can do it but if you want the best then the ones mentioned are the Best.
My Gall Bladder was removed in February in Honolulu, excellent, The Surgeons and Doctors knew my son and discussed the case with him on the phone before the op. The Lad told me, they are the best in the whole Pacific area.
I was very confident and very happy with the outcome.
My Gall Bladder had turned Gangrene, it had blocked the Pancreatic duct and the enzymes were backed up into the Pancreas giving Severe Pancreaititus, They told me that without medication I had no more than four days to live, So I was very lucky to be where I was at the time.
I have had no problems since.
The nearest Liver problems Hospital to Wales is Birmingham, there are no specialist hospitals there for that kind of treatment if you want the best.
If you have problems always go to the hospital that specialises in that type of problem even if it is many miles away.
You will then get the correct treatment. not a botched job.
My mates wife is now terminal, may be gone by Christmas. Only 62,
She had gall bladder problems, Bolton said you cannot have an operation , or you will die, this has been going on for five years now. she has been in constant pain. I told her repeatedly what to do, but no. she trusted Bolton.
In June I told her, get to St James in Leeds, she went and they told her it was too late ,it had severely damaged her Liver and was now inoperable, The Liver disease is too far advanced to help her. could not have a transplant as the associated organs were also too damaged. She is now in a care home ..waiting the end..
.So do not listen to your local Doctors, Go to the best, the ones who specialise in that complaint.

Cheers
Brian.

Thanks for your recommendations Kong- obviously the gall bladder advice is not quite relevant ( most of my internal organs seem to end up on the cutting room floor). I am still in possession of my pancreas and liver which seem to be functioning fairly well - other bits are usually monitored by either a request '' just turn on your side sir and relax''( Relax! heaven knows how those ucl waiters survive a six weeks trip), or by posting samples of my ess aitch 1 t to some anonymous laboratory for analysis. (what a s*** job)! On a more philosophical note, we all eventually rot ( hence the expression ' i feel a bit rotten this morning') but sometimes exchanging information amongst those who contribute to this site can sometimes go some way to make lifestyles more enjoyable in a number of ways- as Kong, and certainly myself, rarely accept a first diagnosis when presented with a health problem, and i'm sure most of us on here would also demand a second (and sometimes a third) opinion on any health issue that occurs. Years ago we accepted the word of a doctor as the truth- to question any doctors advice was akin to commiting heresy. so we just walked out of his surgery and died.
cheers
gilly