So I’ve had an abscess on my nipple for around 3 years, but it’s been pretty small and it’s came and gone several times. Yellow discharge with and without blood, itchy breast and occasional pain. It didn’t seem like a big deal so I never went to the drs.
Eventually I realised it won’t go away without intervention so had to book a nurse appointment where I was prescribed a week of Antibiotic A (for ease, rather than using the correct name). Didn’t resolve it so completed the course and went back where I was prescribed antibiotic B for 5 days, completed the course but didn’t resolve it so I went back and was prescribed antibiotic C for 5 days. This also didn’t work after finishing the course so went back and was re-prescribed antibiotic A again for 2 weeks and an ‘Suspected cancer urgent referral’ as they’re called in Scotland(?) was sent off. This was the 22nd of August. As this final course also hadnt resolved the abscess I called the drs again to see what I could do while waiting for the appointment letter and queried if they (the breast clinic) usually take this long (as I thought they used to be called 2WW urgent referrals) and it’s been over a month.
They advised to call the hospital which I did who then said suspected cancer referrals to the breast clinic have a wait time between 14-20 weeks for the initial appointment. Couldn’t believe it. Surely that’s not normal? Thankfully I don’t feel particularly worried or anxious about my symptoms but I’m sure there are many people who do.
I don’t know how it works in Scotland but that sounds distinctly off. I was referred to The Parapet (Windsor) within two weeks of seeing the GP with a lump in my armpit. I’d call again, see if you can get through to someone else? Do you have the MacMillan Breast Care nurses up there?
I also thought it seemed insane but on the phone to the receptionist (Drs) confirmed there was a suspected cancer urgent referral made and when I called the breast clinic at the hospital they said they received the suspected cancer urgent referral on the 22nd of Aug (day it was made) and then gave me the wait times. From a cursory read, there are essentially no timelines in Scotland as there are in England and what little time frame they do try and keep to; my local regions NHS repeatedly fails. I have another nurse appointment so I’ll maybe ask again later although I relayed the time on the phone earlier to the nurse and she didn’t seem overly shocked…Maybe it is as bad as it sounds!
That long a wait for an urgent suspected cancer case doesn’t sound right. I’m in North Lanarkshire/ Glasgow and was told by the GP it was 2 weeks urgent cases but i got an appointment in 4 weeks (probably due to Christmas and New Year). I’m not sure but i think I read somewhere someone can look at the GPs notes and decide the case isn’t actullay urgent?
I’m in Scotland (NHS Forth Valley) and I was seen at the breast clinic within 48 hours of seeing my GP! Saw GP Wed afternoon, hospital phoned me on the Thursday offering me an appointment on the Friday!
I think that is unusually speedy but was told by GP that I should expect to be seen quickly and to chase if I hadn’t heard within 2 weeks.
I’m in the Perthshire area and got a referral for the Breast Clinic within 2 weeks. You should call the Breast Clinic, as urgent referrals are usually 2 weeks.
Best Wishes
From what I can see online - it looks like both Lanarkshire NHS and Forth Valley both meet the gov standards for USC referrals but NHS Fife doesn’t. Not sure why it would be downgraded although could be my age as I’m <30? Other than that the referral pathway dictates a USC referral if a breast abscess doesn’t respond after 1 course of antibiotics and it took 4 before I was referred. Clearly it’s lingering in the back of my mind as I’ve been looking online quite a bit and trying to find wait times etc (as you can tell).
I’ll just wait to see how long it takes and update later. Supposed there’s not much I can do in the interim
I didnt know it varied by region, that isn’t good, I think an NHS deadline should be across the whole of Scotland. Even if your region did take a bit longer, 14 to 20 weeks is extremely long. Hopefully you’ll get seen soon but definitely keep checking yourself and report any differences asap xx
I come under Greater Glasgow and Clyde and was seen at the Breast Clinic less than two weeks after being referred by my GP and that included the Christmas and New Year holidays. I got the results within 48 hours. I would definitely see your MSP. Waiting times like yours are completely unacceptable. I hope you get this resolved very soon.
I’m in Scotland and had an urgent referral appointment in a week. This doesn’t sound right and your symptoms merit it. I’ve not read through any replies or updates but I hope you call and get an appointment real soon.
I’m in Scotland too, under NHS Lothian. I was referred urgently at 33 & had my appointment the next again week. I also had an issue with my nipple too & had been given antibiotics from my GP. Hopefully you get seen soon, seems like such a long wait.
Hey! I read through your post history and saw you were diagnosed with Paget’s disease. Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I’d heard of it before but thought it was bone-related so I had a google.
To be honest, I’m a bit worried after reading some of the symptoms - as there as things it didn’t occur to me to be symptoms of much of anything ie scaly/peeling nipple, extreme itchiness on one side as well as sharp pains. They’ve all been pretty intermittent so I put it down the the infection (which it very well could still be)
I’m usually a very level-headed person so I haven’t been worried as I’m young, have never had children and have no family history of breast or cervical cancer (that I’m aware of) but I’ve been on a bit of a spiral in connecting the dots. Think I’ll find it difficult to hold out for another 3/4 months. At the very least when the time comes I’ll request a punch biopsy if they don’t think it merits any tests.
Hope chemo is going well for you and I’m glad that there seems to be local support services for you!x
As an update, as I had to nip into the Drs again I just confirmed in person the referral. Also called the hospital again to confirm waiting times and it is currently 17 weeks, although as I’d been on the list for almost 6 weeks already it would only be another 12 weeks. Felt sorry for the woman on the other end of the phone as she didn’t seem particularly happy about having to relay that info either. She did mention my priority had been downgraded 1 step but that it was still a USC referral.
She also asked if I’d be willing to travel to Forth Valley so hopefully I might get an appointment sooner if one becomes available there.
That’s a ridiculous wait with something so anxiety provoking .it does sound like the priority of your appointment has been downgraded ? Hopefully you will be seen sooner in the other area
