I originally had my treatment on the NHS as this was quicker and better than private.
However, I have transferred to the private hospital as I can have more frequent check ups
Does any one know what happens if I need further surgery - can I be treated on the NHS or do I have to have my treatment privately
You can have surgery etc on NHS.I pay for mammos and consultations but know that,at the point where I need treatment every thing can be transferred back to NHS.I did ask that very question.I use private for mammos cos I can get same day results.
Love Vx
Hi Boobytrap
I was the opposite to you as in I had initial tests and dx, as well as surgery done private. After surgery my consultant/surgeon recommended that I have my oncology on the NHS as this would give me access to a bigger and better MDT. I cannot fault the treatment I received on the NHS other than to say that each visit to the oncology clinic I was seen by a different oncologist or registrar, whereas had I stayed a private patient I would have had the same oncologist each time.
I am surprised that you found that the NHS was able to treat you quicker than the private sector, I was at my GP on the Monday evening and at the hospital the same Thursday, the 3 day wait was due to me unknowingly choosing a very small private hospital, had I opted for one in Edinburgh or Glasgow I could have been seen on the Tuesday.
I had my dx on the Thursday and was in surgery the following Friday, I was initially offered the very next day but this did not give me sufficient time to get things organised at home … I have since learned that had I been referred and treated on the NHS I would have had approx 2-3 weeks wait for breast clinic and then possibly the same again for surgery.
i think it differs where you are. i had mamo on mon core biopsy. surgeon rang me fri with results and in the next wek. i delayed it due to hols. i have had district nurses visit me instead of me going to doctors for dressings. i am now getting herceptin at home as found out we are all allowed it just get consultant to agree. i am looking into private health care but when it something like cancer you get treated just as quick on nhs but i want a private room. take care julie
I had all my tratment onthe NHS but my Herceptin was done by healthcare at home, and my nurse does alot of private patients aswell, my onc, and other consultants also do private. Apart from not having a nurse come to the house for chemo I feel that i have been well taken care of.
louisexx
I lived in London for 2 years and was covered on BUPA via employers. I only ever had to use it 2 or 3 times in the 20 years, so when I moved back to Scotland I decided not to bother with it as we were starting a business and BUPA was going to cost us about £500 a year each.
The following year I was diagnosed with this and I was absolutely terrified of having to be on the NHS. However, I’ve found the NHS up here to be fantastic and I can honestly say my care has been every bit as good as anything I had on BUPA. I was in a side room with tv/dvd and en-suite for my surgery which I had not expected and all the other stuff like the chemo/rads and Herceptin were very professionally handled. I had Healthcare at Home for the Herceptin which was great as I had it in the morning, then just got on with my day. I was also able to build up a good rapport with everyone I dealt with and by the finish the oncs told me I was a great communicator lol!
I had all my treatment privately and I feel I missed out on the NHS network regarding support. I was never given a breast nurse, I was never told where or how to get a prosthesis, had to research all the terminology myself etc etc.
The worst part was my consultant told me that I could not have an immediate recon incase I need rads. In the same meeting he also told me I definitely wouldn’t need rads, but I was scared and confused and didn’t realise the contradiction. I think he told me this as he didn’t have a plastic surgeon available at the private hospital.
I had all my treatment privately too, from GP to consultant in 24 hours, dx 48 hours later and surgery 7 days after seeing GP. I managed to find support for myself through this website, within my local supportive community and through Maggie’s Centre. I have a BCN and she’s been fantastic, really helpful and “there” for me.
I had my chemo at home, and, having accompanied a friend for her chemo in hospital, I am glad I had that option. I went for rads to the NHS hospital, but it was still worth being private, for me, as I always saw my consultant oncologist, not her registrar or whatever.
I was in a NHS hospital for a week with an infection, and that was terrifying. I felt very isolated and unsupported, yet I knew what the junior doctors etc were telling me was wrong. I am going through the complaints procedure at the moment as I feel I have to try and make things better for patients in the future.
I wasn’t able to see my consultant oncologist every time as she had new patients, but I was always given the option of waiting to see her at the end of the clinic if I felt it was necessary. When I was in isolation at my local hospital for a week, one of the oncology registrars from the hospital I had my clinic at came to see me twice.
My own experience with NHS treatment has been excellent. Yes, there were waiting time from the biopsies, test result and my final operation. But my consultant told me that the waiting is not going to be life threatening or jeopardise the outcome of my treatment. May be it was due to the type of cancer I have (DCIS). But during the waiting time, I managed to obtain various information and gained understanding about the treatment and the process. I helped me a great deal in deciding the choice or my reconstruction surgery.
I suppose it depends from hospital to hospital. I was treated at the Royal Marsden - it is as good as the private hospital. The staff and the consultants are excellent. I am very fortunate, when I had my operation at their Sutton branch. I was given a nice private room with an en-suite bathroom. There was TV/Radio, a fridge and cupboard in my room. I had a one-to-one nursing for the first two days. I must admit, the food was not great. But again, it is free. I asked my family to bring some snacks.
A breast nurse is assigned to me to give support for any problems or questions. There were physio therapist helping with the recovery exercises at the hospital. Well done NHS. I am very happy with the treatment. I decided to make a donation to the hospital because I am quite impressed and grateful.
I had to wait 4wks for my breast clinic appointment after going to my GP with a lump, then a further 4wks before I had my op.I beleave if I’d had treament sooner my prognosis would have been considerably better as I had a very aggressive and quick growing tumour.My friend went private last year and had the op within a week of finding a lump!