Yes the waiting is hard I wish they would hurry up I feel like I am in limbo.
I am so sorry that you had positive results and surgery, how are you feeling as ten days is not long? What did you have done? What is the next step?
I wish you well. Take good care of yourself and thanks again for the good wishes. Fingers and toes crossed my results will be good ones. Will be sending happy messages the day they come thats for sure!!
Luv ya’s
K
Hiya K. Well even though I had a positive result I think I am pretty lucky they thought it was only a v small tumour, non palpable, which was picked up on a mammogram - my first, just a few weeks after i turned 50. I had WLE and SNB and got the results this Monday. Good news this time - only 12mm, grade 1, clear margins and no lymph node involvement. So I just have to have radiotherapy and starting to take Arimidex. I was only dx on June 18th and it’s amazing how I now feel lucky - it’s all relative isn’t it? Very pleased everthing has been done so speedily - the waiting is def the worst bit. Hang in there! Best of luck - please keep us posted! Looby x
Hello fultime - I have just read through this thread and it’s my first time on the forum. I was diagnosed last night. I agree with you about the waiting it is so hard. The difference between hospitals, even those 5 miles apart seems to be immense. My friend who went to Wythenshawe went on one day had all the tests and even got the results of the biopsy 3 hours later and was in having her lump end sentinel nodes removed one week later. I had to wait 10 days to get referred to the local Stepping Hill Hosipital, then had the tests including biopsy and had to wait another week. I know that I have grade 2 malignancy and that’s about all so far. My consultant (who is not an experienced breast specialist like other consultants but an experieinced surgeon) said it has to come out. I am now in a serious quandry as to what to do next…
I am lucky enough to have private medical insurance as hubby works for company who provides it so I thought - well lets go private, take some heat of the already stretched NHS and should be fine. So wasn’t given much more info except he would write to consultant at local BUPA hospital. However in the meantime, I have called to make appointment - NO chance - no spaces to see private consultant for 3 weeks and that’s not the op that’s just the consultation. So then got another name and tried her - she’s on hols and first opportunity to meet her is on 31st. I can’t tell you how frustrated I am feeling. I just want to have the surgery by someone who is skilled and does breast surgery regularly and also has other specialist in the team etc… . I am not sure what to do now - try and get referred on again - to someone else? As I don’t have all the facts to hand because I was being referred on I don’t know whether I should wait to see the recommended surgeon at the private hospital or try someone else further afield who could fit me in earlier. Either way I still have to get the NHS consultant to refer me on … ARGGGh, and to top it all I just got answer machines all day to day.
Fiona a frustrated 45yr old in South Manchester! any comments - ideas advice - greatly received.
Hi Fiona
I’m so sorry that you’ve had to join us on here - it is such a worrying time isn’t it. I had PMI through my husband too, and went through a fair bit of angst over whether to stay in the NHS or go private (which I have used quite a bit - most recently for a hysterecomy earlier this year) but although it is usually excellent for getting an apointment quickly and having a convenient date for an operation I decided to stay in the NHS where, in the case of cancer, there are more support services. I did have to wait a week for my recall visit from routine mammo, and then another week for diagnosis, but I then was given my appointment for surgery the same day (two weeks later). Another ten days to wait for results of surgery but when I went for the results another appointment had already been made to see oncologist only two days later - and now I’m waiting for radiotherapy in two to three weeks (but the body does need time to heal after an operation). Obviously this all varies from hospital to hospital. I was also told that a week or two before diagnosis and surgery is not really going to make all that much difference - when a cancer is of a certain size or stage it has usually been in the body a long time - certainly months, maybe years.
Something else to consider is that you will meet other people with the same condition in the NHS - and this can often be very helpful - and the Breast Care Nursing Team are just fantastic. I have heard it said that in private hospitals there is only one breast care nurse who is not always available.
Well, I just wanted you to consider the option of going back to the NHS if you aren’t getting any particular benefit in the private system - but I know others have really appreciated the privacy of their own rooms and I think you may be able to get some treatments done at home.
Do you have a local breast cancer support group who can advise you of the options in your area and maybe put you in touch with someone to chat too? I am sure that people on here will come up with some good suggestions for you too. Good luck with everything. Looby x
Hi Fiona,
I’ve just picked up this thread and I’m sorry that you have joined us.
I was diagnosed in May and had WLE and sentile node biopsy. I’ve used my husbands helath insurance and my GP referred me. Can’t yours do the same if you go and tell him the problems? After all it’s your insurance is paying and you should get what you want. Also my insurance company found me a breast surgeon in the hospital I asked for, perhaps another option to try. Explain to them what you have written here. My privat hospital has a very good BCN with a support group.
Looby, just a word of warning, I thought that I woould have radiotherapy within weeks of surgery but I had to wait 7wks to allow healing to take place as rads does slow this down and makes your boob very hot and red! Glad that your outcome was favourable. 2 more weeks of rads to go for me.
Toffee
Hi Fiona
I am so sorry that trying to go private has caused so much stress. I was private initially and everything happened fairly quickly for me… as in 21 days from finding lump to surgery! My health insurance was through Norwich Union as opposed to BUPA, but perhaps you could contact BUPA direct, explain your situation and the problems you are having finding a surgeon with spaces available and ask if they have a list.
Hi K
We used to have private health insurance but that ended with OH job. Have found treatment with NHS very good the longest wait was about 3weeks for initial surgery. To be honest everything has happened so fast its like being on a rolercoaster. Everyone has been really helpful so far, From diagnosis at end Feb I’ve had two lots of surgery and will be halfway through Chemo after monday.
Babs

Hi all I am so sorry to hear your sad and worrying news, it makes it hard to tell you that I have got an all clear today and I am overwhelmed with happiness but still think of all you poor girls out there who have been dx’d. I got home from a weekend away to find a letter from the hospital only had the biopsy on Tuesday so was quicker than they said. It says that all is fine but I must still keep my follow up appointment in September, I guess this is to discuss what the lump is and what should be done about it, but the main thing is I do not have cancer and I can start living again, sleeping, smiling, and stop constantly dreaming and worrying about it. Thanks so much to you all for your support during this really hard and stressful time, you have helped me through it so God bless you all and thanks for the prayers, they worked.
K
Really happy for you.
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This is such good news, so pleased you came back to let us know Looby x
Happy to hear that you had a clear result - don’t feel guilty cos you are in the clear and some of us are not - we are always delighted when someone escapes it.
Enjoy yourself and get some sleep.
thats fantastic news, fingers crossed mine will be good news on Thursday too xxx soooooo happy for you, xxxxxx
Thanks to you all. Can anyone tell me what happens next when I go for my follow up appointment, will I still have to have the lump removed or will they leave it?
Fingers and toes crossed for you Melanie for Thursday.
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As your follow up appointment is so far away they will probably give you the choice. Had mine removed last Thursday. It’s healing really well and my boob just feels bruised! They biopsy it again once it’s out for belt and braces.
Best of luck Fultime and everything crossed for you Melanie.
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