Interview CC03

Age at interview: 46

Age at diagnosis: 46

Brief Outline: Diagnosed with cervical cancer (Stage 1B) in 2001. Radical hysterectomy planned.

Background: Restaurant Owner; divorced, 2 children.

She felt she wasn't given any support by the health professionals when she was given her diagnosis.

and then I felt abandoned by them, that day, they just leave you, they tell you .'Sorry we're disappointed with the result' My God, he's disappointed, what about me?   

And I just felt they tell you that thing without thinking about the human side of, of that person who has got the cancer, nobody phone here or nobody even say 'you know, 'Are you OK?' you know, not nobody. And I felt I had to deal with all that, then I worry about my family you know as well, how are they taking all this news.

Comments that patients should be given more information by their doctors.

You know they should give me information and also like I said to you before that day they diagnosed me, they they must know they diagnosed me, I mean they must know that cancer is cancer, it does scare a lot of people, they must know that from their experience, they must. So they should at least ring you or follow it up, not the same day but the day [after] someone should follow it up to say 'Look you know, we heard you've been diagnosed with cervical cancer and we would like to help you, just give you a bit more information about that, you know, this and that and we will be on the other line if you need something'' Just that little thing instead of being left in the cold really and you have to fend for yourself and look for information yourself.