Lost in the System
The problem with some sayings, especially ones like “no news is good news” is that it’s entirely misunderstood as a concept and is more an expression of hope than fact, what the saying should be is “no news is missed news”.
25 April 2025
It’s now some two months since the CT scan, and I have my appointment with the consultant. I was a little surprised when I was actually called in by a junior doctor and their student rather than the consultant, and oddly my fears about being told that the CT was bad melted away. That is, until the junior doctor’s face took on a look of hurried concern.
“Have you read the CT report?” they asked, before quickly explaining that I have a couple of cysts in my pancreas that are probably nothing too bad as they look like they’ve been there some time but they’d like to do some more tests and scans, just in case there is an underlying tumour which, in their words, “could be something sinister.”
So I’m asked if I’m happy to have an MRI and MRCP, which obviously I agree to, and then just as we’re about to finish our appointment they drop one more bombshell: “If you can pop via the receptionist on the way out and book another appointment to see me in a months time. I don’t want you getting lost in the system again.” I respond to this in my usual manner and just go “that’d be nice, I look forward to seeing you then!”.
As I leave I note three things. First, I had just been told in a roundabout way that I could possibly have cancer. Second, the walls here are just as thin as everywhere else, and you can hear every word from outside the room. And third, this all just took place in a room with a large sign on the door saying ROOM 13.
It turns out that what should have happened back in February was about to happen very quickly indeed. Before I’d even made it back to the station, the radiology booking team were already on the phone, offering me an appointment for an urgent MRI and MRCP.