Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To tell GP he missed my cancer?

80 replies

GoodbyeRubyTuesday · 23/10/2013 12:06

I'll try to be as brief as possible, and to avoid being too graphic!

I started having bowel problems about three years ago, aged about 19. I mentioned it every time I saw my GP and repeatedly asked about any tests they could do to see what was causing it. My aunt is coeliac so I was concerned it was that. Eventually about a year after my first complaint, I had a coeliac test, which was negative, but symptoms were worsening. I decided to try a gluten free diet anyway and symptoms seemed to improve. GP said if I had two negative coeliac results it would be "unusual" HmmConfused so he might contact a gastroenterologist about it (not refer me, just ask them), so asked me to reintroduce gluten. He then refused me the test as I'd already had a negative one.

In April last year I started having some blood when I went to the loo. It was relatively bright red. I mentioned it to the doctor who told me it was piles and that he "could do an examination but I'd need to get a chaperone and it would be a lot of hassle and take a lot of our time" so I agreed not to have an examination, more fool me. The blood seemed to have stopped after a while.

I then moved home and changed GP, my symptoms worsened and to cut a long story a little shorter I was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer and FAP.

If he had just done an examination he would have found that I had no piles and could have referred me sooner so it might have been caught at an earlier stage.

To confuse matters I'm now back at the surgery with the GP who missed the cancer, but have avoided seeing him.

Some people have suggested I ought to let him, or the practice manager, know that he missed the diagnosis. I am not angry or trying to make him feel guilty, but if I warn him then he will avoid making the same mistakes in future. However, it is unlikely he will ever see another case of FAP with no family history as it is a rare condition, and also unlikely to see another university student with bowel cancer, so it might come across as being vengeful or malicious.

What do you think?

OP posts:
DevilsRoulette · 23/10/2013 17:58

I, like others, think it is important that you make both him and the practice manager / other GPs in the practice aware of this. It is important that it doesn't happen again. If they don't know what happened, nothing will change.

BuntyPenfold · 23/10/2013 18:06

I used to be a GP s receptionist and was sometimes called in as a chaperone. It isn't a hassle, it takes very few minutes, and I often used being there as a chance to offer a cuppa. Your GP is negligent.

ColderThanAWitchsTitty · 23/10/2013 19:03

Can I say something really patronizing as well OP? (with the best of intentions though!)

You are still young and you might be sort of accepting it right now, but this is the kind of thing that can fester and in 10 years time when you have realized how angry you should be... you might have missed your chance to tell him

BasketzatDawn · 23/10/2013 19:36

Ruby, you need to say something but formally. Intriguing as it would be to see his face when you tell him, it needs to go in writing. Maybe you could write a letter that you post at same time as you see him face to face??? Not sure though that would work because of what I am about to say. By putting it in writing - and outside the practice - there would be a discussion, a review of his practice, and no chance of it being brushed under the carpet. And lessons would be learned. You'd hope.

What alarms me particularly with what you have told us is the absence of 'good practice' around the rectal exam or lack of it. Much of correct diagnosis involves ruling things out, so he should have done an examination to rule out piles. If he couldn't do it there and then (slightly lame excuse about time and need for chaperone notwithstanding - tho, as male dr with a female patient, yes he did probably need chaperoned), best practice would dictate that he arranged for you to come back later, either to him with a chaperone organised, or to a female colleague with or without chaperone. I think the GMC would agree with that. In short, he failed to do his job properly, he should not have let things slide for so long, and he needs the chance to change his practice.

I am thinking about a letter to the local Family Practitioner Committee, if that's what they are called. I am in Scotland and terminology is different here. Maybe in England you just write a govt minister or the Daily Fail??? But a formal letter to somebody outside the practice, IMO is what you need to do.

ohmymimi · 23/10/2013 20:04

It's negligence, lodge a formal complaint, other patients will be treated the same way, other wise. I am sorry you have suffered so. My GP, then the Gastroentorologist, pulled out all the stops and fast-tracked me when I had a problem recently, and that was after a clear bowel cancer screen 2 months before. That is what should happen and was an example of NHS best practice. I'm furious for you, you deserved better.

BasketzatDawn · 23/10/2013 20:11

One further point is about 'rare' conditions. Lots of them about, somebody will get them, so somebody has to diagnose them and treat them. It's why we are encouraged to discuss with a person who's been to med school rather than just use Google. No? Though in fact only really the CAUSE of your problem was 'rare'. You did have clear signs that you had a serious bowel problem and that should have been sorted sooner.

BrandybuckCurdlesnoot · 23/10/2013 20:13

GRT - Mum had multiple polyps, some had turned cancerous. I can't remember the exact number but it was in double figures. They never put a name to it, they just quickly removed almost all of her bowel and she has regular check ups now.

I wish you all the best xxx

littlebillie · 23/10/2013 20:13

I would do it is worth telling him as you may save a life in the future. I have a rare currently difficult to cure cancer and I think they missed it a while ago. I discussed it with my practice and it was helpful. I have realized that on my own journey you have to be your own health advocate. Good luck with speaking to them x

LaGuardia · 23/10/2013 20:32

If a General Practitioner was able to diagnose every disease then we wouldn't need consultants and specialists would we? Give the bloke a break. Or go private in future.

thegreylady · 23/10/2013 20:40

Slightly off topic but after my breast cancer treatment my GP invited me to give regular talks and Q/A sessions with medical students on placement at the surgery. They found it very useful especially when I told them never to dismiss lumps in younger women or painful lumps as either can be breast cancer symptoms.

weebarra · 23/10/2013 20:43

La Guardia - point is, the GP didn't examine and didn't refer. Didn't do his job.
Ruby - I'm on the Tamoxigang thread with you, also about to complain as 3 separate GPs told me my breast lump was an abcess. I was eventually referred to breast clinic by breastfeeding midwife and two weeks later have been diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer.
I'm not complaining for the sake of it, merely to remind them that 36 year old breastfeeding women can get cancer too!

cardamomginger · 23/10/2013 20:48

I think you should let the GP know. You might also find that telling him is helpful to you. You should do so in whatever way is most helpful to you - face to face, letter, via he practice manager, however works for you.

My exDH was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour and was slipping in and out of consciousness by the time we rushed him to A&E (it was blocking the flow of cerebral spinal fluid and he had a dangerous build up in his brain). He'd been dismissed by his GP time and time again. In all the drama and trauma I never followed it up with his GP, but I really wish I had.

DevilsRoulette · 23/10/2013 20:56

I know GPs can't know every disease under the sun. I'd forgive them not knowing the symptoms of gangliosidosis or atransferrinemia off the top of their heads but someone coming in with symptoms that are fairly well known even by people with zippo medical training to be something that should be checked out? That's something that needs raising.

Straitjacket · 23/10/2013 20:57

Definitely make a complaint. I am absolutely gobsmacked that he kept sending you away with those symptoms!

Similar thing happened to my uncle. He was suffering terribly with blinding headaches for weeks, months even, on end, but the doctor kept sending him away with antibiotics saying it was a sinus infection. Later on he had a seizure, was rushed to hospital and we found out he had a brain tumour. Unfortunately the tumour took him not long after, but we made sure that we made a complaint. It was the very same doctor who sent me away with my mother aged 3, saying I had a cold when I had pneumonia Hmm

So sorry you had to go through that. Hope you are ok now!

joanofarchitrave · 23/10/2013 21:07

OP, thank you for telling your story. I think you should complain. If you dislike confrontation (right with you there) write a letter, make it as neutral and/or friendly as you would like, but do make sure that it is headed 'formal complaint'. Say what you would like to happen - e.g. for a person presenting with similar symptoms to have a physical exam in the surgery, regardless of age, perhaps? To be honest, they are probably waiting for the letter from you; in a way it would be a kindness to write it so they can get on with retiring addressing the issue.

Apparently there is a saying among colorectal specialists - if you don't put your finger in it, you'll put your foot in it. Your GP put his foot in it.

wickeddevil · 23/10/2013 21:07

I'm really sorry about your diagnosis OP and hope you are receiving the correct treatment, and are comfortable.

IMHO your GP missed some red flags and did not listen to you, examine you or investigate as the guidelines recommend. There are some significant learning pints to prevent others suffering too.

I would ask your practice manager to investigate it as one of their significant events (all practices have to do this annually, and a missed diagnosis of cancer is one of the categories).

I would ask for feedback too.

My best wishes to you.

GobbolinoCat · 23/10/2013 21:25

Yes of course! Please do it and do it now!

wukn80 · 23/10/2013 21:31

I would print the post you made here and give it to the practice. This sort of feedback would be helpful, and it's something that shouldn't have been missed. I'm not sure whether I'd make a formal complaint myself, having not been in that position, but I'm urging you to share this information with the practice at least so it's highlighted - for the sake of other service users.

Your post sums it up in a concise, helpful and factual manner, and doesn't come across as overly emotional or in a confrontational tone.

Please, please share it with them.

Original poster
GoodbyeRubyTuesday · 23/10/2013 22:02

LaGuardia the point is, he thought I had piles which he should be able to identify. But he did not do an examination. If he had, he would have realised it was not piles. I wouldn't have expected him to know what it was, but he would have known that I needed a referral. He didn't refer me to a specialist. A different GP at a different practice referred me almost six months later when my symptoms suddenly worsened.

weebarra that's what I want too, to make them aware that it's a possibility even if it's quite rare! Good luck with your GPs :)

Thank you everyone for your ideas and comments, it's really helpful. And again sorry to even more people who have had similar experiences. I know the GPs can't know everything, but some of the ones I've come across it seems they would rather misdiagnose someone themselves than admit they don't know and refer someone on!

OP posts:
MegaClutterSlut · 23/10/2013 22:14

Sorry to hear that op :( but yes absolutely let him know, he might be more vigilant in the future and it could save someones life

ThePinkOcelot · 23/10/2013 22:21

LaGuardia, the fact that the GP didn't examine her nor did he refer her for a second opinion is where he failed! So no, don;t give the bloke a break. Would you be saying the same if it were you?!

GiveItYourBestShot · 23/10/2013 22:49

Ruby, as you say you're not keen on confrontation, might one of the cancer charities take it up on your behalf?

I too would say "formal complaint" if you can bear it. My mum's GP insisted she had IBS. She had ovarian cancer. He never apologised.

I hope you stay well Thanks

foofooyeah · 23/10/2013 23:05

Ruby, I think you need to tell the doctor or surgery to help others.
My surgery changed their policy because of me, my GP referred me for BC although she thought it wasn't and was shocked when I was diagnosed. Now EVERYONE who comes with a lump or irregularity gets referred as they just don't know.
Your GPs need to check everyone for possible bowel cancer if they cannot categorically confirm.

AnyChippednailvarnishfucker · 23/10/2013 23:07

LaGuardia how many 19 year olds can afford private healthcare? And more importantly why should they need to?

Best of luck OP, I think a strong worded letter asking the GP to review his treatment of you given your later diagnosis of cancer and an assurance that he will at the very least undertake additional training in diagnosing bowel conditions.

If that doesn't work start the negligence ball rolling.

AnyChippednailvarnishfucker · 23/10/2013 23:07

x post with Foo, re training