What are cancer diagnosis letters like?

[VagueLetter]

My relative had a scan which showed something.
The dr sent them for another more involved scan and possible biopsy.
They didn't do the biopsy that day, just scan.
They said the results will be given by letter.
Letter arrived today for an appointment tomorrow, it doesn't have a department on it, it just says its a follow up letter.

I assumed if it was negative, the letter would say its negative, if its positive, it would say contact your GP.

Can anyone shed any light on NHS letter practices please?

Normally appointment letters tell you which consultant is holding the clinic and that you will be seen by them or a member of the team. Who ordered the scan? Is it the same doctor?

If it’s a letter for an appointment it won’t necessarily discuss the results as you will be told them when you are seen.
The GP hasn’t discussed any results with DH each time he’s had cancer, it’s a bit above GP level tbh as they likely won’t be able to inform re treatments/timings etc.

Follow up appointments can be given if positive or negative though, does it not say the name of the clinic? Can you Google the consultants name and see what comes up?

it might just be to say, scan unclear so will need to do biopsy? But someone would need to have that conversation with your relative.

Thanks all.

The letter just says its a follow up appointment, and the name of the consultant. Relative is under a couple and said that consultant is the one dealing with the body part that had the scan.

Its obviously about the results of the scan, but is this the format of letter they send out if you are positive for cancer or w/e else?

I'd assume if it was negative they'd just say that in the letter.

When I had a recall mammogram (ie second mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy) all results, positive or negative were given in person. It was so that it was impossible to guess from any letters what was going on. I wouldn't make any inference either way from this.

Especially if there are several possible diagnoses (after all, they did see something on the first scan, but maybe it could be one of any number of possibles, some of which might be very treatable)

Or it might be to review further investigation or treatment options.

In my experience:
Biopsy
Letter to appointment
Find out at appointment and next steps explained
Letter to your GP explaining appt and findings which also gets sent to you. This is where diagnosis is explained.

So basically you wouldn't find out it's cancer through a letter.

In my experience they call you in to deliver the news face to face and discuss next steps,

Ok, thanks

Last month I had a biopsy in hospital and got the "not cancer, all clear "by letter.

Whenever I've had a biopsy result that was positive for cancer I have always been informed face to face at a hospital appt, never by letter and not by my GP.

Your relative won't receive the diagnosis by letter, they will get it face to face in the follow up appointment. There will be a letter to their GP after that which will probably be copied to the patient. Any biopsies or test results etc will have to be discussed at an MDT (multidisciplinary team) meeting by all the professionals involved and a treatment plan discussed (if needed) before the follow up appointment. It is nerve-wracking.... My follow up appointment is next week. At this stage there is nothing to do but wait, unfortunately.

I have cancer.

It was scans etc and told at end will be cancer
Then a week later called back for results told cancer
Then letter confirming
No gp involvement, told in person alone
If negative sometimes you just don't hear for ages

They didn't tell anything at the last scan, just that the results would be sent by letter.

Thanks, at least we dont have to wait too long, it's tomorrow, but we are right at the end of the 2 week timeframe.

Fingers crossed you are clear. And to everyone else waiting, and those that aren't clear, I'm sorry and hope you are well soon.

I was also told during a scan, but had to wait to see my oncologist with the biopsy results for the official diagnosis.

My telephone appointment for my needle biopsy results was changed to in person when I had cancer. I can’t imagine they’d give that sort of news any other way.

Appointments letters are purely administrative and would come from the appointments team. Results letters etc come from the medical team so you cant read anything into there being no results in that letter.

When I had cancer I was phoned and invited to go in to see the consultant. A letter came a few days later. Diagnosis was given face to face. No GP involvement at all although they were sent copy letters at all stages of my treatment.

We had the appointment, the shadow has gone in the 2nd scan, it must have been infection 🙏👏

That's great news!