When Pam was referred to the Hospice her first thought was ‘ oh no, that is where you go to die’. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987, which has since spread to her lungs, bones, liver, brain and other organs, she was advised to go the Hospice nearly five years ago as a day patient and she visits every week.
Pam quickly realised that the Hospice is not about dying. ‘the staff offer support, counselling and treatment, they are always there to explain things. I don’t know what I would have done without them.’ Pam, aged 61, from Larkfield went through a period of shock when she was first diagnosed before deciding that she just had to get on with life. ‘I thought “why me” and sobbed my heart out.’ Over the past 20 years she has undergone various treatments and says that chemotherapy was the most difficult. ‘The staff listen to any problems and answer any questions that you have and never fob you off.’ She says that staff at the Hospice are constantly on hand for support and she copes by having a good ‘belly laugh’ every day.
‘Unfortunately my family have to watch this. It is all right for me because all I will end up doing is going off to sleep not knowing anything about it – but my family will have to cope.’
