Cancer patient warns New Brunswickers to closely monitor care

Deby Nash, recently diagnosed with kidney cancer, is warning New Brunswickers to be their own patient advocate after anomalies in her blood work went unaddressed for months prior to her diagnosis.

Nash says her cancer could have been caught sooner had she, or the medical staff tasked with her care, been more attentive.

"I was reassured by the people holding the charts, by the people I had been dealing with for a decade, 'No you're fine, you're stable, everything is good,'" said Nash.

"I had become complacent. I had become too trusting."- Deby Nash

Nash was undergoing monthly blood tests to monitor the functioning of her one and only kidney she received as a transplant form her sister 34 years ago. For a decade, if the results were unusual, she would get a call within 24 hours, and go back for a re-test.

When, unbeknownst to her, anomalies appeared in November, the call for a re-test didn't come.

It wasn't until February, after three more tests and a visit to the doctor, that she was called and advised something was amiss.

It would turn out the anomalies were sign of the 5.5 x 5 x 4.5 cm mass growing in the middle of her kidney. She received a diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma in early June.

With the news that things were not fine, nor had they been since November, Nash says she 'hit the roof.'

"I immediately asked to speak to a physician. Somebody who can answer why somebody had dropped the ball," she said.

"A doctor called me back, tried to calm me down, knows the type of person I am. I wasn't hysterical. I was angry. I had become complacent. I had become too trusting. And they wanted to reassure that everything was fine, and I told them the only way to reassure me was to give me some extra tests. I didn't even know what kind to ask for."

An ultrasound, then a CT scan revealed the tumour. She was told it would be six weeks before she would have an appointment with a urologist. Nash didn't feel she had that kind of time.

Nash says she managed to convince a urologist to take her on earlier, but was unsatisfied with his recommendation he remove her kidney entirely, despite an inconclusive biopsy. She then researched other urologists. He gave her a referral to a surgeon in Halifax.

She is now booked for surgery Tuesday. That is a surprisingly quick time, in the molasses-like movement of diagnosis, specialists, and bookings of an over-taxed health care system.

Nash says she may still lose the kidney, but she has been using everything in her power to cut through the red tape and speed the process. She says her questions are often not welcome. But, she says, with a wry smile, there's nothing like possible death to motivate you.

"If there is something that is shown to be a problem, whether it's an x-ray, blood work, or even how you feel, learn about it. If you aren't good with computers, find somebody who is. Ask your nurse, ask your doctor, 'Can I get more information about this?' If you don't understand the big words, ask them to explain them. They will if you ask. If you don't ask, you don't get."