Can doctors mention possibility of cancer before testing?

[toohardtothinkofaname]

thats it really.

Someone I know has experienced on/off stomach pains & following an appointment with the doctor was too it 'could be cancer or an ulcer' and gave them an appointment for a camera down the throat on September 3rd. That doesn't sound right to me they'd diagnose a possibility so flippantly & then not follow it up right away.

Thoughts please?

[lougle]

Yes, they can give potential diagnoses. It's quite possible that it's been phrased as 'without taking a look I couldn't tell if it's cancer or an ulcer or nothing at all...' rather than 'this could be cancer'.

[toohardtothinkofaname]

Got it, thanks lougle

[Tanfastic]

Yes they can. When my ds had a suspicious lump in his neck the gp said it could be lymphoma (or lots of other things). He had to put suspected cancer on the referral
To get a consultant appt urgently.

[Tanfastic]

Just to add it wasn't lymphoma. It was something very harmless.

My mum recently had the camera down the throat due to stomach problems and was told it could be a multitude if things but the gp didn't elaborate.

[StealthPolarBear]

Is there meant to be a two week wait for potential cancer and the 3rd would breach it?

[StealthPolarBear]

Local anaesthetic I believe

[lougle]

Local anaesthetic +/- sedation.

[NanaNina]

It isn't a camera as such Camel - it's a narrow tube called an endoscope and has a tiny camera attached to the end, it's passed through your mouth and throat and into your stomach. Patients have the option of sedation (so they don't feel anything) or a local anaesthetic spray in the throat, which tastes horrid. I opted for the latter and it was uncomfortable and made my eyes water but the nurse was re-assuring and holding my hand. If I had the procedure again (called an endoscopy) I would opt for sedation.