I have a lump in my right breast at the side. The skin looks a bit strange!? when I pull the breast up and I found the lump when washing about 3 months ago. As i have been suffering with swollen glands for the past year I assumed it was a gland and didn’t take much notice but had it checked when i saw my GP last week for another problem. I am 38 and have been told that there is a 7 week waiting list for the breast clinic. There have been a lot of cancer related deaths in my family but none due to breast cancer. A member of my family has offered to pay for a private consultation but I am not sure if it is worth it. Any Advice?
Dear Charlie12
I’m sure you will get a lot of support from the other users of this forum during this difficult waiting time.
I thought the publication on Referral to a Brest Clinic might be useful for you. It includes some information about waiting times for an appointment.
breastcancercare.org.uk/server/show/nav.680/changeTemplate/PublicationDisplay/publicationId/59
Kindest regards
Janet
Facilitator
Poor you - 7 weeks is ridiculous. The NICE guidelines say that women should be seen within 14 days don’t they?
I found my first lump 11 years ago and things were really bad then with waiting lists. I paid to see a specialist privately and was diagnosed within 24 hours. However - this time around the NHS were much more efficient than the private healthcare providers. I couldn’t even get an initial appt with BUPA for 5 weeks - by which time I’d been diagnosed and operated on with the NHS.
If you can stand the wait then hang on for the NHS - but if the stress is going to be too much for you then it is money well spent to “go privately” for the initial consultation.
Good luck - lumps aren’t always cancer.
Hi. I suggest that when your NHS appointment letter comes through the post to you, phone up the number on the letter and ask them if they have any cancellations. I did this (phoned them up twice a day) and I managed to get my appointment moved forward by 2 weeks after a few days trying.
scottiedog x
Hi Charlie12,
Sorry to hear you are having such a wait. I agree with Scottiedog. It’s always worth phoning the clinic to let them know you are available for a cancellation at short notice if you can.
As to going private it would be worth finding out what is available in your local area. NHS is great if you get a cancer diagnosis and they move very quickly into treatment but lots of people do seem to be having long waits for clinic appointments for tests recently. If your local private hospital can do it quicker, and they usually do, it might be money worth spending for the sake of your sanity. If you are going down that road it might be worth phoning the helpline for advice about which tests are the most crucial. it could save you money if you know which tests are essential.
I hope it turns out to be nothing, remember most do.
best wishes, Jan
hi charlie12, I found my lump, saw my dr,was in for biopsy nd mamogram within 2 wks, had my IDC nd 2 nodes removed 2 wks later.
then had 2 more shaving as margin not clear, now waiting to radiotheropy appt .
Gloucester Royal Hospital have been great, BCN very supportive.
Sorry to hear ur having a long wait, its very nerve rackin
Good luck
Sunset