"first class treatment and monitoring"

An ultra sound scan for something unrelated showed a thickening on the back of the bladder wall. I was referred to and seen very quickly at the urology department of North Devon District Hospital. 

I had no symptoms of bladder cancer and so consider myself very fortunate that the bladder cancer was discovered and diagnosed at an early stage. 

A tumour was removed via a cystoscopy carried out under general anaesthetic followed by six weeks of chemotherapy. A further cystoscopy showed the cancer had become higher grade and more aggressive. Since then I have had a six week induction course of BCG immunotherapy treatment, after which there was no sign of recurrence, followed by a three week maintenance course of BCG treatment. I'm now awaiting a further cystoscopy before a second three week maintenance course of BCG treatment. 

Throughout this situation I cannot fault the service I've received from every member of staff at the hospital. They have kept me fully informed at every stage, and my clinical nurse specialist has always been available to answer any queries or concerns I have.

It's a great benefit that North Devon District Hospital has the facilities to treat cancer patients such as myself.The hospital is less than a half an hour drive from home, parking is easy, and I'm usually back home in just over an hour after leaving for the weekly treatments. Keeping it local takes a lot of stress out of the whole procedure, and doesn't impact too greatly on treatment days. 

I am very appreciative of the team at the hospital, and have every confidence that I will receive first class treatment and monitoring in the future.