Hello everyone. I have just been diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma ER+ and feeling like nothing is really real at the moment.
I wondered if there’s anyone who has been / is being treated at NNUH or Spire Norwich? If you don’t mind sharing, what are your experiences like and who are your surgeons? Have you had good / bad experiences there? I don’t have the option to go private (Spire), but I know they share the same surgeons. I’ve had so many bad experiences with different doctors and health care professionals over the years (not necessarily at NNUH/Spire, just in general) so I’m feeling really anxious about getting the right team behind me. Not that I’ll probably have a choice, but just want to feel prepared I suppose?! And have an idea of what to expect.
I was treated at Spire last summer and work at NNUH so have experience of both.
I had a double mastectomy and sentinel node biopsy after bilateral IDC diagnosis.
From diagnosis to mastectomy was four weeks due to other tests needed and then a five-week wait for results, including oncotype.
We had private healthcare so went via Spire but the team at NNUH are also fabulous. The feedback we hear is so good. You’re correct in that the Spire team are also consultants at the N&N, my friend’s mum is currently being treated at N&N and she’s also been really pleased with the care.
I elected not to have reconstruction since there was a nine-week wait (to see plastic surgeon and for the amount of theatre time/recovery) and that was private, and now I’m really happy to stay flat and am glad not to have gone through more surgery.
Obviously through Spire I chose my consultant and I’m not sure if that’s the case at N&N or how much choice you have in the matter but they are a great team anyway and obviously everything goes to MDT so input comes from everyone.
Hi @lynnc123. Thank you for your response, that’s reassuring. You wouldn’t think the wait would be so long, especially for private treatment. I’ll send you a message if that’s ok?
Hi @mcsparkle
I wasn’t treated at either hospital but I did chose my consultant.
When diagnosed, one of my close friends, who is a consultant in different speciality, asked me who I wanted to treat me. Up until that point I hadn’t even thought about it/considered it an option.
We both work at the nhs hospital where I was diagnosed/treated and we asked around the nursing and theatre teams who work with each, as well as a friend who had been treated and then asked to be put under the recommended consultant.
I realise not everyone has these links but maybe ask your nurse if there is a friends and family feedback system and are any of the consultants named/any more than others for care given… google the consultants to see if they have scores/feedback on iwantgreatcare.org, ask anyone you know who has been cared for if they have positive or negative feedback…
I have been a nurse for 42 years and ultimately, I find most consultants passionate, caring and wanting to do a good job so hopefully you can’t lose.
In addition, Decisions are discussed and made in multi-disciplinary meetings with a group of highly skilled expert staff so not just down to one individual.
Thank you for your response @LauraR that’s really good to know.
I was originally supposed to be seeing a different consultant but I took a cancellation appointment to be seen over a week sooner, so the change has thrown me. I don’t really know why because I hadn’t met the original consultant anyway. I had done some research about him though and was happy with what people had said. I can’t seem to find anything about the new consultant I’m with. I tend to be an overthinker anyway, but I’m in total overdrive now!!
I had invasive ductal er+ and was treated at NNUH. I had a lady surgeon and she was brilliant she doesn’t actually practice privately and I thought about going to spire but everything happened pretty quickly and was more than happy with everyone so decided to stay NHS. From diagnosis to surgery was only 8 weeks and then on to radiotherapy. I can’t fault the treatment I had and the compassion from the staff.
This was nearly 3 years ago and now about to have 3rd year checkup. Am on tamoxifen and living the best life!
Thank you @sparkle0103 that’s great. I’m hearing lots of good things about everyone at NNUH, which is so reassuring. I hope everything’s goes well at your check up! X