Robert Fisk, a cancer patient and columnist, has spoken of his fear of dying by Christmas as he waits for scan results, and has called on Labour to act on mental health support for cancer patients.
Three years ago, Fisk was diagnosed with stage four incurable bowel cancer after a camera procedure found a "sinister looking mass". This week, he underwent a biopsy on lymph nodes in his neck, with preliminary results suggesting the cancer may have spread.
A Month of Waiting
The radiologist examined eight lymph nodes, described as abnormal with highly suspicious cells. Fisk notes that even with an appointment on Tuesday, his doctors won't discuss the scan results until two weeks later, a month after he was told not to worry.
He says he needs to be prepared for a "full-scale aerial assault" on the cancer, fighting on more fronts than initially thought.
Call for Mental Health Support
Fisk wishes the doctor had acknowledged the worrying time and mentioned support services like the Maggie's cancer charity centre at his hospital, or Macmillan centres elsewhere. He argues that doctors should always mention mental health support and make referrals when giving bad news.
This aligns with the Daily Express's Cancer Care campaign, which calls for mental health support during and after treatment. Former health secretary Wes Streeting pledged this in the Personal Cancer Plan in February, but Fisk now urges Yvette Cooper to show the detail and turn words into action.
