Overview

Dr Reynolds was a young woman only a few years older than I was. I rather liked her. We sat down and chatted exchanging social pleasantries for a while. 'So what did the path. results show? Do you know what it is?' I asked trying to get down to the issue that had been gnawing at my mind constantly for over a week. 'I don't think it will mean that much to you' she replied. 'Now obviously the first question you will have is how long have you got' she looked directly at me 'and I'm afraid I can't tell you.' I was confused. What was she talking about? 'I'm sorry' I started haltingly 'I don't understand what you mean. Do you mean how long it is going to take until I'm better? How long the treatment is going to take?' 'No' she hesitated 'I meant how long you have got to live' she paused 'and I'm afraid I can't tell you because I'm not an oncologist.' Here was another medical word I was expected to understand. What was an 'oncologist' and why wasn't one here whatever they were? Half-formed questions tumbled around inside my head. To each poorly articulated question that stumbled out of my mouth she seemed to answer 'I don't know I'm not an oncologist.' She was right she wasn't where was this elusive beast? 'Come back on Monday morning' she told me. Her parting remark stuck in my mind. 'Please don't go and jump off Sydney Harbour Bridge.' At least she didn't attempt to tell me to 'have a nice weekend'. She didn't know that I didn't know I had cancer. She didn't know. A Long Walk Home is Rachel Clark's evocative and moving account of her treatment and experiences with health professionals in Britain and Australia while she was living with and dying from cancer. It includes an Epilogue by her twin sister Naomi Jefferies and learning points for health professionals by John Hasler and David Pendleton. For information on other patient experiences please click here

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9781857759068

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Rachel Clark

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