Guided navigational biopsy

Hi all, i have recently had a ct scan which showed a 2cm tumour in my lung, indicating secondary breast cancer. I was referred to local (Lancaster) lung team for biopsy but they have referred me to a cardio thoracic surgeon at Blackpool for a guided navigational biopsy under general anaesthetic.
Unfortunately there is a wait for this as it has to be a certain piece of equipment, particular team etc and so it is going to end up being 2 months from my scan to my biopsy.
Im busy googling and ringing other hospitals to try and find if i can be referred elsewhere to have it sooner. So far i have found Wythenshawe hospital do, and ive asked the team at Lancaster if they can refer me there only if the wait time is less.
Has anyone else had this and got any ideas of where else i can try?
Thanks, NorthernJay xx

The Nightingale Centre at Wythenshawe are wonderful and minimal waiting times. I hope you can get a referral there

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Thanks so much , fingers crossed i can get seen there xx

I’m sorry to hear what you’re going through @NorthernJay.

I hope you’re able to get the referral you’re looking for. Please know that our nurses are here to chat things through as well on our free helpline 0808 800 6000.

We’re thinking of you,
Lucy

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Ive just heard my local consultant has sent my ct scan images to Wythenshawe for them to view and to see if they can fit me in sooner than Blackpool can, so fingers crossed xx

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Thank you. Ive just heard my local consultant has referred me to Wythenshawe to see if they have space for me sooner than Blackpool. Thanks xx

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Hi, I hope you get sorted quickly. May I ask, have you already had breast cancer and is this a recurrence. I’m not very knowledgeable about all this, just worried as I have decided not to take Tamoxifen after my breast cancer & was told it could come back as secondary cancer. I had all my appointments at Lancaster then radiotherapy at Preston. All were brilliant and really quick.

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Hi balchik, thanks, yes i was treated at Lancaster/Kendal and Preston in 2022/2023, and since then have been on the hormone blocker medication plus abemaciclib and bisphosphonates.

I had large tumours (10cm and 3cm) and 9 lymph nodes involved, so i knew i was high risk and was glad that they threw everything at it. So this feels soon to find that secondary cancer has been detected, but im keen to have the biopsy and start treatment asap.

In 2022 there were quite a lot of delays due to covid backlog, so i was a bit unlucky then. But i agree the staff and the treatment at Lancaster/kendal/preston was very good.

Unfortunately they dont have the equipment needed for this type of biopsy. Im keeping my fingers crossed that Wythenshawe can fit me in sooner than Blackpool…the sooner the better!

All the best to you and thank you for your reply xx

Hi, just wanted to share an update in case it might be useful to others. Not only did Wythenshawe agree to try and get a biopsy, they did it last Wednesday which was 3 weeks earlier than my local option.

Locally my only option had been to go to Blackpool for a procedure under generwl anaesthetic. Wythenshawe do this type of procedure top, but decided to try the more usual way under sedation and managed fine.

Although this has confirmed secondary cancer in my lung, which was expected, Im glad i found out sooner so i can start treatment 3 weeks sooner too.

If anyone has similar issues in delays for biopsies i would recommend ringing hospitals in neighbouring health trusts, as my experience of that has been that they were happy to help.

Hugs, NorthernJay

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