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Original poster

Need some advice re: cancer

16 replies

givemeastiffone · 27/07/2022 20:07

My mother has been ill for 8 months, after countless doctors visits (10 in total) I lost my shit and insisted she was referred to a specialist.

Fast forward to now, she's had blood work done which has come back extremely elevated (cancer markers) and we've now been told it's a 6 month wait.......... she won't be around in 6 months ....WTF do we do? Can't afford private......I'm stressing so much ...

OP posts:

rogueone · 27/07/2022 20:14

Are you in the UK?

I think you need to go back to the GP to understand the results. As if in the UK and your mum had all the 'markers' she would be in the two week fast track and seen within that time peroid. My DH was ...

Original poster

givemeastiffone · 27/07/2022 20:15

Yes, I am....

OP posts:

thesandwich · 27/07/2022 20:16

You could call the Macmillan helpline which may be able to offer advice/ information.

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theremustonlybeone · 27/07/2022 20:22

in that case go back to the GP and if still concerned go to PALs within the hospital she was seen and complain.

BirmaBrite · 27/07/2022 20:40

I don't understand , has she seen the specialist or you have just had the results of some bloods she has had done and you have realised they are above the norm ? A six month wait for something that is definitely indicative of cancer is very unusual.

twointhemorning · 27/07/2022 20:50

What type of cancer are they testing for?

NanaNelly · 27/07/2022 20:54

This doesn’t sound right. Your mum should now be on the 2 week cancer pathway.

are you sure you’ve understood what you’ve been told.

NanaNelly · 27/07/2022 20:56

And what makes you think she won’t be around in 6 months?

bloodywhitecat · 27/07/2022 20:56

Six month wait for what? What cancer do they think she has?

memyselfi · 27/07/2022 20:56

Which marker was raised ?

EweCee · 27/07/2022 21:03

She should be on the 2 week pathway…although when I was told I had cancer, during a phone call, my appointment was set for 8 weeks time. When I chased and found my paperwork and discussed it with the cancer team, they said that yes, I had cancer, but the referring doctor had made a small mistake in the title on the referral form so they didn’t HAVE to see me in the 2 week window as a result.

luckily I went private and saw a consultant that day, and after biopsies etc, he confirmed I wouldn’t have been alive to make that original 8 week appointment.

not to alarm you, as my case was unusual and extreme as it turns out, my point I’m making is that you need to question, chase and question again - basically be the squeaky wheel/advocate for your mother to find out what’s going on.

Original poster

givemeastiffone · 28/07/2022 03:35

She has the 2ww referral when she saw the initial specialist, they did blood work who the referred it to the haematologist.

I spoke to the secretary twice asking what was going on (they're 'very' busy) and she said she'd call me back, which she didn't. I called back yesterday and was told that it's been marked as urgent and to make an appointment because the secretaries don't do that. Called the appointment line, it's a 6 month wait time.

From the levels that's raised/not normal, it's almost certainly some form of blood cancer.

OP posts:

theremustonlybeone · 28/07/2022 07:24

You need to be careful about diagnosing a cancer based on blood test results. My sisters GP told her she had cancer based on blood results and it wasn’t. She panicked and was told there was delays with follow up and went private and she didn’t have cancer. It takes a lot of tests and investigations before a diagnosis is confirmed. Follow up with the local PALs office in the trust and they will be able to support you with this

MissyB1 · 28/07/2022 07:31

Patients don’t make their own “urgent” appointments with a Consultant, either the secretary or the booking team do. The Secretary should ensure this happens. Very weird that they told you to ring the booking line for something urgent.
Ring the secretary back and ask if waiting 6 months for someone who is on the cancer referral pathway is normal. Be firm! I know there is a desperate shortage of appointments and massive waiting lists - that’s not your mum’s problem though.

BirmaBrite · 28/07/2022 08:00

It might be worth contacting the PAL's department at the hospital that the Haematology department is located ? See if they can investigate on your Mums behalf ?
Contact the GP again ?

peanutbutterkid · 28/07/2022 08:17

what are her that symptoms she's living with, OP?
Do you mind sharing her exact blood results here?
Were you with her when they told her it's almost certainly a blood cancer?
I'm just saying ill people often can't take information in, get a garbled impression of what they were told.

If it's just elevated CA125, that can elevate for many reasons.
It doesn't only go up because of cancer.

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