Two-week cancer pathway - support while waiting

[BadLuckNameChange]

If you’ve been referred for the “two week pathway” for suspected cancer, maybe we can support each other through this wait?

Anyone else? Need to share their frustration or fear? Poll is just to see how many of us there are.

I really didn’t know quite where to put this because it’s not “cancer” but it’s not anything else. I already feel like my body is a wreck of two very different autoimmune illnesses and I just want to scream, “I can’t have cancer! I’m ALREADY ill!” I’ll find out if it’s cancerous or not on 5 September when I get the scan, scan reading, and any biopsy needed.

It might be easier to get support from people who have had the same tests as you.

Do you not want to say what type of cancer you might have?

Hi I’m on a 2 week pathway for Ovarian cancer. I’ve had an ultrasound but not been told anything about that, except to have a blood test on Tuesday for CA125.
I will either be called in for a gynae appt after that or told to have another scan / blood test in 4 months, depending on outcome of bloods. I would like to know what was seen on the scan but I’ll wait until blood test results.
I am terrified.

@EggandStress I’m so sorry to hear this! That must be tremendously stressful. And how frustrating they didn’t tell you the result of the scan? I guess maybe they want all the information together first, so maybe that’s better?

@tothelefttotheleft Yes, didn’t think of that! I have suspected breast cancer - it sounds like my appointmrnt is supposed to alleviate the kind of stress @EggandStress is going through, because they said they’ll scan it, read the scan, and then make a decision how to biopsy immediately on the day.

The “lump” is about 5cm without easy to define edges, which seems so large. It’s a lime. There’s a lime inside me that might be cancer. I may never look at margaritas the same way again. 😂 But really… I’m terrified too.

@BadLuckNameChange

I missed your reply yesterday sorry.

So you've had a mammogram and ultrasound already and you are getting the results on the 5th?

I've had breast cancer. I didn't get told I had cancer on the day of the tests. I was told results would take two weeks but I was called back for a next day appointment after ten days where I was told it was cancer.

However I've heard other people get told they strongly suspect it's cancer the same day.

The huge majority of two week pathway patients don't have cancer.

@tothelefttotheleft I’m in Scotland, so I don’t know if that makes any difference? On the leaflet they sent with my appointment, it specifically said to please come prepared because getting results on the same day “takes time” - if you only need a breast examination, it will be one hour; if you need a a scan, two hours; and if you have a scan and biopsy, four hours. It was in a two-page thing telling me everything that would happen at my appointment on Sept 5 - that they’ll do the scan, look at the scan, and then decide whether to do a fine needle biopsy or, if they suspect more, they’ll numb the breast and take a full biopsy sample. I don’t think you’ll get the biopsy results same day, but you should leave knowing if cancer is at least ruled out, since you’ll know your scan results and if there was need for a biopsy. I haven’t been able to talk to anyone who has been through one of these 4+ hour appointments to ask if they knew whether it was benign or not at the end. You may absolutely be right that I do all of this, and then there is another wait to be certain of the biopsy results - I don’t know. And while I know the statistics (9 out of 10 people on the two week pathway won’t be diagnosed with cancer), I think I’m just scared that I have a lump this large.

At one stop clinic the consultant will discuss the mammogram and physical exam results with you on the day, but biopsy results will take a few days and may need to be discussed at an MDT. So they’ll tell you as much as they can and all about next steps.

I am so sorry for what all of you are going through. I was recalled after mammogram a little while back. I was lucky (at least so far, there is a lot of cancer in my family) but I will never forget the long wait for the appointment and the fear during it.

I must say the fear was mine; all the staff I encountered at the breast clinic were kind as could be.

Very best wishes to each of you

You are very fortunate that you’ll get everything done in one day. It may seem all very overwhelming now, but that’s actually excellent care and will make everything a lot faster for you. I don’t have breast cancer, I have melanoma, but I was about 5 days from referral to my first appointment, about 3 weeks to biopsy, maybe 7 weeks to results. Then it was a couple more weeks after that to another consultant appointment, scans, further biopsy (it had spread to a lymph node node) and final diagnosis and staging was about 2.5 months after my referral.

Try to keep yourself busy this next week. I did a lot of hiking and swimming. I actually hiked 100 miles in the month before my 2nd surgery. Do write down any questions you have for your appointment as you think about them so you don’t forget.

I'm on a 2 week wait pathway for suspected melanoma. I'm a doctor myself, which in some ways makes it worse, because my anxious imaginings are quite well-informed! My initial appointment is this Friday.

As others have said, the vast majority of patients referred on the 2 week wait pathway don't have cancer.

Can I join in? I’m having surgery tomorrow for something which is blocking my bowel and causing sickness. Followed by an anxious two week wait to see whether the something is cancerous and if so, how far it’s spread.

Thinking of you @Namechange822 and sending hugs. xx

Hope your surgery goes well @Namechange822

Also sending many well wishes @Namechange822

Thank you, surgery went well so now onto the waiting!

How is everyone else’s waiting going?

Glad to hear the surgery went well @Namechange822

I had a blood test for CA125 on Tuesday so waiting for the result of that.

I got into a state last night. Really sobbed. I find it difficult (impossible) to think anything but the worst. DH was good for cuddling and then we watched the first 2 episodes of Hostage, which took my mind off it a bit.

Watching something easy sounds good. It’s hard isn’t it, in generally quite an optimistic person but this feels completely out of my control which is tricky.

im hoping that my friend will fetch my laptop for me today so that I can carry on watching Sherlock which I’ve been rewatching recently.

I’ve been on the 2 week pathway for breast cancer twice. Second time gp said “she didn’t like the look of it, at all” and I about had a heart attack. Both times it was a cyst and that is the most likely outcome for you too op. Good luck xx

My DH had the same experience with what his GP thought was skin cancer.
Definitely better to be safe than sorry.

I loved Sherlock.

@Namechange822 the waiting is the worst I think
Almost worse than the diagnosis you dread
( Been there got the T shirt).
Impossible to cope with the uncertainty.

@BadLuckNameChange how are things ?

@limetrees32 I completely understand, and so sorry you got the t-shirt, so to speak. I’m still in the wait right now. My appointment is 5 Sept.

I’m so sorry I missed your post @Namechange822 ! But so glad your surgery went well. And yes, watching something easy sounds brilliant. I liked Sherlock as well and recommend checking out Annika on the BBC iPlayer (about a Marine police officer in the water around Glasgow, but not dark or gritty).

@Wherehavealltheflowersgone1 That’s exactly what’s happening to me! I know most likely it will be a cyst or something but GP did give me a bit of a heart attack because she “doesn’t like the look of it.” I know the odds are against it being cancer, but it’s still a hard wait since I’m already quite ill (chronic illnesses are being absolute bastards) and I think any cancer would probably be the end for me. I know I’m very, very lucky it’s only two weeks.

@EggandStress Im so sorry you had your proper sob about the CA125 test, but who wouldn’t??? It’s only natural. It’s very hard when they keep doing more and more investigations to think that it will come back benign, but in truth, those investigations are what ensures it’s benign. I truly hope your results come back soon!

I was diagnosed yesterday. I hope you get a different outcome but here for support either way