Sorry it took so long.

[beachcaster]

Hello All. I have been viewing your posts daily for the last 11 years on past and present forums. There has been an amazing amount of information for all to benefit from. Dominic has provided a forum with a friendly atmosphere and that is one of the reasons I am posting after all these years, although I do have an ulterior motive. After reading a post by florentyna posted in "medical matters", I thought that if i highlight this area of uncertainty there may be more information out there.
Now for the really selfish part of my post. I have been diagnosed with a tumour and have been told by my surgeon that only one hospital in London can carry out the operation for removal of the tumour. This puts florentyna`s husband and myself in the same area of the unknown. If anybody has had any experience of this type of situation please share your information.

Best regards Alan.

[PaphosAL]

It honestly sounds to me, Alan, that it might be an exceedingly good idea to have your medical issue dealt with by the NHS in the UK, before venturing out to Cyprus on a permanent basis?

Remember that florentyna`s husband is in the opposite situation to you. florentyna and her husband are already in Cyprus (if I've read the parallel posts correctly, that is...)

Good Luck, and hope that all soon becomes better for you! Cheers- AL

[beachcaster]

Sorry Al.
I did not want to make the post all about me but I am 68 years old, resident in Paphos for 11 years with a Cyprus health card. I honestly expected to receive any treatment required by using the Cyprus healthcare agreement with the UK. For me this is my first experience of hospital treatment apart from the usual A & E visits for teenage stupidity and the inevitable minor incidents during 22 years of maintenance engineering in the circuit board industry. Hope this clarifies my situation. I would also like to state that I have 100% confidence in the surgeon handling my case.
Best regards ...........Alan

[PaphosAL]

Understood, Alan and apologies. I misread your OP as you still living in UK and awaiting a move to sunny Cyprus, after a successful op. In that case, read my reply to florentyna, as the same (possible) idea might apply to you, as it could do for her OH...

It's a particularly contentious issuse for me, as my dear Stepfather passed away in August 2004, just a few days before his 70th birthday. Yes, Prostate Cancer... NHS did nowt for him, thinking back. It was Macmillan, moving him to a Hospice for his final days that really took care of him...

Cheers- AL

[beachcaster]

PaphosAl.
Sorry Al but I have a rectal tumour not prostate. not sure anyone needs so much information. hope you have already had your evening meal. I know you only mean well.
best regards............. Alan

[Houdinibun]

Sorry I cannot really help but in those circumstances I would get a referral to the London surgeon or get on a plane and take it from there? I do wish you well in uncertain times and hope you have family to support you through the next few months. x

[PaphosAL]

A tumour is a tumour is a tumour, as long as they grab it in time.

Just had my NHS letter warning me that they are sending me a Bowel Cancer Screening Kit in two weeks time. Last years went into our green recycling bin, unopened. This year, I'll give it a go...

They won't believe how much whisky, pizza, chillie and curry is protecting my nether regions, LOL! But seriously. the daily sample tests are a load of crap...

Cheers- AL

[galexinda]

Just wondered if treatment would be available on the NHS according to this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new- ... o-nhs-care.

'UK state pensioners who live elsewhere in the EEA will now have the same rights to NHS care as people who live in England. This applies to all pensioners who receive a UK state retirement pension and registered for healthcare in Europe with an S1 form'.

Beachcaster, perhaps the surgeon in Cyprus could contact the surgeon direct at the London hospital he has recommended?

[JimX]

Problems are not the treatment being withheld but the fact that Cypriot hospitals do not have the facility to do some major operations, always problem if like me you only have the one Cypriot home and no means to return to your UK home to get treatment.

I agree, get this done before moving out here.

And good health.

[beachcaster]

Thanks all for your replies.
PahosAL. Like you we have always been addicted to the spicy foods and I do like a drink. Please use your screening kit when it arrives.
galexinda. Thanks for the link. A call to the overseas healthcare team in UK (0044 0191 1999) resulted in advice that the S2 route was required for
Pre planned treatment. I have "e" mailed the Cyprus Ministry of Health Admin Dept. this morning and await their reply regarding this.
Regards Alan.

[Dominic]

If you can, call them as well as email them. Some Cypriots don't check emails very frequently, in our experience.

[DavidatLWH]

PaphosAl.
Sorry Al but I have a rectal tumour not prostate. not sure anyone needs so much information. hope you have already had your evening meal. I know you only mean well.
best regards............. Alan

This may be the man in question:

http://www.thelondonclinic.co.uk/consul ... ris-tekkis

He is based at the Royal Marsden as well as having his own clinic. He is Cypriot by birth and visits CY regularly to conduct colorectal surgery. He operated successfully on my wife who had a tumour in a very awkward place, shall we say. We were recommended to him by Dr George Astras at the American Medical Center, Nicosia - he also visits the St George Polyclinic in Paphos. Many on here will know of Dr Astras.

PaphosAL. Be wary of the UK bowel screening test. My wife did the tests every year for 7 years, and got a clean bill of health every time. Then two months after that last test she was diagnosed in Cyprus with bowel cancer. What they don't tell you is that the tests are only 50% accurate. They don't find the problematic polyps. The only sure way is a regular colonoscopy. You'll find that Swiss, German, US people have them every 5 years from the age of 50.

[galexinda]

'He is based at the Royal Marsden as well as having his own clinic. He is Cypriot by birth and visits CY regularly to conduct colorectal surgery. He operated successfully on my wife who had a tumour in a very awkward place, shall we say. We were recommended to him by Dr George Astras at the American Medical Center, Nicosia - he also visits the St George Polyclinic in Paphos. Many on here will know of Dr Astras'.

Very useful information and from previous experience for other medical issues it is usual for overseas specialists to visit Cyprus and carry out various procedures in the private sector and some surgeons undertake operations here.

Some time ago my husband was recommended an operation that wasn't available in Cyprus and arrangements were made in Athens (one consultant to another). When it came to paying the bill on discharge, we were told that if we had the Cyprus Medical Card it would have cost just under half! Even, so the total cost was less than 1/5 of the equivalent in the UK.

[Firefly]

DavidatLWH

The screening maybe only 50% correct, but surely spending a few moments of your time for three days is no problem to any of us. A 50% chance of having your cancer detected before more obvious symptoms appear, is better than no chance at all. IMHO any screening offered should be accepted, it certainly detected mine.

Jackie

[PW in Polemi]

As you have a Cyprus medical card, has your Dr considered the Bank of Cyprus Oncology Centre at Strovolos in Nicosia?

Otherwise, for support and advice, go and see those very helpful folk at Pasykaf (Cancer Patients Support Group), just below the former Carrefour supermarket on Ellados, weekday mornings only.

[Dominic]

Pasykaf are actually in the Paphos Life Directory:

https://www.paphoslife.com/directory/entry/pasykaf

Have to admit, until you posted, PW, I didn't know what they actually did, so thanks for that. You have to use Google translate on their website, but they do look as if they might be able to help.

[Poppy]

PASYKAF are brilliant. They provide so much help and support for cancer sufferers and of course also the free cancer bus to Nicosia.

[DavidatLWH]

DavidatLWH

The screening maybe only 50% correct, but surely spending a few moments of your time for three days is no problem to any of us. A 50% chance of having your cancer detected before more obvious symptoms appear, it is better than no chance at all. IMHO any screening offered should be accepted, it certainly detected mine.

Jackie

Jackie - I think you missed my point. The letter that you get from the NHS implies you have the all clear. That is not necessarily the case. It gives potentially false optimism. The lesion in my wife's bowel had been growing steadily over at least four NHS screenings. The NHS should make it abundantly clear that the test can (easily) miss a polyp.

My point is that a colonoscopy removes any doubt.

[Poppy]

I have the letter in front of me. It says that my result was normal. It goes on to say that no screening is 100% effective so a normal result does not guarantee that you do not have or will never develop cancer. It goes on to say that you should be aware of symptoms and lists the most common so I don't think it does imply you have the all clear. I do hope that your wife is well on the way to recovery DavidatLWH

[Firefly]

Poppy

Quite so, it states quite clearly that the screening is not 100% guaranteed.

David

Sorry to learn about your wife, I would second Poppy's good wishes to you wife.

Jackie