Can anyone advise about going private to get seen sooner for breast clinic?

[sugarhoops]

Have posted on various threads on general health in past week - went to Dr a week ago complaining of left armpit / left breast pain (radiating from armpit) that has been coming and going for a while. No lumps, but doctor doesn't want to ignore the breast pain so I'm booked at nhs breast clinic next week. It's been an agonising week wait up to now (school hols, 3 young kids to entertain whilst trying not to worry & very tearful). I've no idea how I'll get through to next week. Since seeing Dr, I'm really aware of my left breast on the achey side now, could just be worrying but I've convinced myself it's getting worse. I've also got terrible left shoulder pain, like a crick in my neck.

We've got a local private hospital nearby that appears to have oncology services that you can pay privately for, with breast cancer specialists.. At the mo I'm too scared to call up in case I burst into tears on the phone, but has anyone gone down this route for the initial appt? How much might it cost, and how quickly were you seen?

Thanks in advance

[Twodogsandahooch]

Hi a private centre probably would be able to see you the same week . Most do require a referral letter from your GP though.

Have you taken any pain killers? If I can in anyway reassure you it is quite unusual for breast cancer to present with pain- particularly armpit and shoulder pain.

Sending you lots of strength to get through the next few days.

[malteserzz]

I did this and got an appointment the same day, cost £1000 but that was because mine was bad news so had to have ultrasound, mammogram then biopsies, I then transferred over to the nhs for my treatment with the same consultant who had diagnosed me. Dont forget that most people who go are not unlucky like me so fingers crossed for you

[CoperCabana]

I can't advise on the private clinic, but just to say I had dreadful shoulder pain whilst waiting to find out if I had breast cancer. It took a long time to get to a definitive diagnosis, by which time I was convinced the cancer that I thougt I had, had spread to my bones. I was finally given the all clear, at which point my shoulder pain completely disappeared. Almost positive it was tension / stress related. Good luck.

[Lilymaid]

A friend of mine had a similar scare recently. She went to her GP and was referred to the NHS breast clinic - but might have waited a fortnight to be seen.
She had private insurance and so used that to be seen the same day - and fortunately it was a cyst and not anything more worrying.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Round here wait for NHS and private breast clinic is the same - 2 weeks. My GP advised of this when I brought up my private health care on referral for breast lump.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Oh yes you asked about cost. I did go private had consult, mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy all in first appointment total cost just under £1K. The consult was £240.

[iwouldgoouttonight]

My mum has just seen the breast clinic because of pain in her breast, and a lump. Hers is fine - just a fatty lump. They said its very unusual to get pain if it is breast cancer, so try not to worry (easier said than done I know).

[sugarhoops]

Thanks so much all. I have been in tears to my DH who said of course we will pay if it will help my mental worrying but I went out this afternoon with the kids and felt a little more able to cope with the wait so I think I'll just wait it out until next week. I've already done a week (it's an exact 2ww here too) so 1 week left.

copacabana that is precisely my worry - stupidly googled what I thought was an innocuous "shoulder pain" and read about how it could also be a sign that cancer has spread to the bones even though you have no obvious lump in the breast.

I think I will step away from Google and the Internet and try to focus on the kids for a week.
Thanks for all replies nonetheless.

[BareGrylls]

I wouldn't bother paying. It's one of those things the NHS does well.
The thing about the NHS breast clinic is that they usually do all the tests on the day. Everything from mammogram to ultrasound, and then you see the consultant the same day for results. It's very thorough and I'm sure you'll be reassured.

You could ask GP for painkillers if Ibuprofen / paracetamol not strong enough?

[CoperCabana]

Oh bless you. Definitely step away from google. I had breast pain that turned out to be a cyst so it sounds quite similar. That got diagnosed on my first NHS visit and drained. I only had complications because they found a lump behind it. i now have lots of cysts which are not particularly obvious other than the odd pain when they are elbowed by a DD but I know they are there because they were an incidental finding for a scan I had for something else. Really hope you get sorted and get the all clear.

[TheFormidableMrsC]

Bless you, I have walked this mile. I have twice been referred to the breast clinic for lumps/associated pain. Both times I have been diagnosed with fibrous tissue. I also had armpit pain. I can also tell you that if I am very very stressed or tense, I get extremely bad shoulder pain. It does eventually dissipate and I agree with the poster above who says that is likely to disappear.

In terms of private treatment, well yes you can if you can't cope with the additional wait. In our area you are seek within two weeks and in my case I was seen within the week on both occasions. I would definitely try the suggestion of pain killers, particularly an anti-inflammatory type such as Ibuprofen. I wish you lots of luck and remember that 9/10 breast lumps are benign. I hope that's the case for your OP

[BravingSpring]

A two week wait appointment is standard in the NHS for all cancer queries, if you needed to be seen sooner you would be. I really wouldn't go private you will get the same tests and you're half way there already.

Just be prepared to take the first appointment they offer, most 2ww breaches are down to patients not accepting the first appointment.

[Silvercatowner]

The NHS does this sort of thing really well - not worth going private, IMHO.