Hi everyone, a bit unsure where to start! Sorry if I seem like I’m rambling on! I’m 27yrs and from Newcastle but I’m living in the Republic of Ireland at the moment as I’m doing a Masters over here.
I discovered a lump in my right breast a couple of weeks before Christmas and went to my Irish GP. She filled in a referral form as she said I needed to be checked at the breast clinic, but since there is a shortage of these clinics where I live, my GP told me I could be waiting up to 6 weeks.
I went home to Newcastle for the Christmas holidays and explained everything to my mother. Since I have 2 aunts and a Grandmother who have all had breast cancer, my mother was of course very worried and so took me to see out family GP. My (famliy) GP explained if I was still living in England, the normal waiting time would be 2 weeks. However, since I am receiving medical care in Ireland for another illness (I have endometriosis), I am now unable to use any medical services through the NHS until I move back to England, which will be in June of this year. Of course I understand this, as it would mean I would be using two health services in different countries.
My family GP was quite anxious that I get the lump checked asap and suggested that I go private in the UK, but I can’t afford to. At the time, I still felt quite optimistic and knew I should just wait for my appointment to come through. But since we are now in to February and I hadn’t heard anything, I rang the clinic yesterday and they told me they are very busy and the waiting time is 12 weeks. This means that from first discovering the lump in mid December, I won’t be getting seen at a breast clinic for tests until March!
I’m not really sure what to do now, I just feel a bit let down and worried and I can’t stop googling (which I know is the worst thing I could be doing!). Sorry, I know the best advice I can get is just to wait, it’s just I’m beginning to feel really scared.
Not sure if this is an option or not but could you not move back to your mums temporarily and register with the family gp… If you were to need any investigations or treatment where would you want this to be done? If its in England then you really are better going through the English system.
Lulu
I can’t believe you have to wait that long.
2 weeks in the UK is bad enough but 12 weeks!!!
When I was diagnosed I went to my GP on Monday morning and was seen in the Breast Clinic on the Wednesday!
Hi there,
I don’t know where abouts in Ireland you are but would ask if you are within travelling distance of Dublin.
I was living in Dublin for 2 years and a month before I was due to come back to England I found a lump and went to the GP. Despite the GP being convinced it was a fibroidaema (not sure of spelling) she referred me to the breast clinic at St Vincents in Dublin. I was referred as non urgent which means you will be offered an appointment within 3 weeks.
I had an appointment within 2 weeks, went for a mammo, was called back within 5 days for a biopsy and then called to see a consultant within 2 days to be told I had aggressive Her2+ tumour 4.5cm. I was then told I would need to make up my mind about treatment in England or Ireland because wherever I started I had to finish.
I came back to England started chemo a week later, went on to have a WLE, 20 sessions of rads and have just finished my 12 month course of Herceptin and am all clear so far.
My advice would be to go back to see your GP, explain your family history and see if there is any way you can get a referral quicker and like I say depending on where you are, to Dublin because St Vincents in a Centre of Excellence for breast cancer and they exceed all the targets by quite a way.
I had my treatment in Harley Street thanks to great private health insurance but the treatment plan was exactly the same as was set out to me at St Vincents.
Please feel free to pm me if you need any specific info.
Sam
Ireland is in the EU . England is in the EU.
You get free treatment whilst in England …
i think your GP was more likely considering that it would get complicated being diagnosed in one country and getting the treatment (if needed) in another .
I have an english friend who retired here to France near me and she became ill whilst visiting her daughter in england…she was diagnosed with colon cancer and has had all her treatment in england absolutely free with no questions asked.
I dont know how you get round the blocking GP maybe by going straight to A&E…
best of luck with however you get your diagnosis…
Mary M
Hi
I live in Dublin and can highly recommend St Vincents. When I went to my GP (back in 2007) on a Tuesday, I was seen on the Friday at the Breast Clinic.
Definitely time to ‘jump up and down’ with your GP in Ireland.
Best of luck
Katie
Hi amy_t
As well as the support and advice you are receiving here you might find it helpful to give the BCC helpline a call on 0808 800 6000. Here you can talk through your concerns with someone who will offer you emotional support as well as practical information. The lines are open Monday to Frdiay 9 to 5pm and Saturday 9 to 2pm.
Best wishes Sam, BCC Facilitator