If a Dr said this to you, how would you feel?

[PissyDressingGown]

So you go in with a list of symptoms including weight loss, mild confusion, fatigue and hunger and thirst. Whilst there you casually mention that you have a lump which keeps coming up in your lower abdomen (thinking hernia here). Dr more or less ignores all your symptoms, doesn't bother checking this lump and says the following:

"I'm not concerned as it doesn't sound like cancer".

WTF - I wasn't even thinking cancer, I certainly am now. I never mentioned that so why would he?? Why would you mention a word like that if you didn't think that's what it was??

On top of this I can't actually get an appointment to review the blood tests as they're fully booked up for more than two weeks. Absolute joke.

I'd feel relieved.

Most people who speak to a physician about a lump are concerned it could be cancerous, I suspect.

I would think the doctor was writing it off as something psychological. Go back and ask for proper investigations and tests.

I had something very similar, turned out I had anaemia which is very simply diagnosed and treated but it took me a year to get it diagnosed because they kept writing it off.

I'd feel relieved. My doctor used the words 'doesn't sound like anything sinister' once which was probably nicer!

I would be bloody relieved. Most people with those symptoms and a lump would be thinking of cancer.

I would also be relieved that they didn't think going over my blood test results was that urgent. Because if it was, they'd be desperate to fit you in ASAP, not in a fortnight.

It is very difficult sometimes to keep on top of and document a list of symptoms whilst ordering blood tests at the same time AND look as though you are listening (even though you are) when having to stare at a screen to do all those things*. That said, your GP could have taken an extra minute to recap and explain more sensitively.

Rest assured that if your blood tests do show anything that needs immediate correction, you'll be called back in or sent off to A&E with a letter (depending on what needs doing). They won't ignore your results until you can make an appointment.

I would try and relax. Saw your other thread earlier and I hope you get to the bottom of it soon

*(Just to be clear I am not a GP but I do do these things in a different setting)

What he said was fine. Whats not fine is if he hasnt arranged tests and brushed you off. Sounds like simple blood test is in order.

My GP is happy to do a phone appointment to discuss blood tests, I imagine that if they are very off a face to face appointment would be suggested instead. Maybe ask if your surgery does phone appointments to discuss results.

This is the point at which I normally mention private health insurance. Without fail the doctor will look over the symptoms again and say we'll I could refer you to x-ologist to be safe. And off I go to see someone who has the time to deal with it properly.

To be honest your symptoms would automatically make me think of cancer, I'm surprised it never crossed your mind? I assume that's why your GP said that.

As for the blood tests, can you not ring for the results?

So what did they do?

This is the point at which I normally mention private health insurance.

I've looked into private HI but found a lot of exclusions. Is it really worthwhile? Sorry to hijack the OP's thread but do you have any recommendations?

I think it might be a healthcare “thing”. I had it said at my colposcopy- “so I’m clear, we’re not talking about cancer, if I was worried about that I’d tell you”.

It’s supposed to reassure if you were too worried to ask, I think.

OP, you have my sympathy. I went through a gamut of stuff where nothing ever happened without me pushing for it (having to ring hospital 7 times for an appt, scan request allegedly being binned etc.). After 8 months of this, the consultant waved me off with "It's probably a muscle strain" (symptoms incl nausea and fatigue), and told me to come back if I "started passing blood or having sudden weight loss". Given that he was a gastroenterologist, I knew he meant digestive tract cancer. I didn't at any stage worry about having cancer; however, I did wish whatever was going on with me would be taken a bit more seriously.

Have you been tested for diabetes, OP? Those are all classic symptoms.

He mentioned it as that is what most people with lumps are worrying about. And many people who fear cancer don't want to say the word, so it's left for the GP to introduce it. What did he say when you asked if it could be a hernia?

He’s clearly got a very poor bedside manner, however, he did undertake many many years of training to gain his expertise, And I would respect that. He has taken a set of bloods, these are great indicators of many issues, I can assure you if anything was abnormal or red flagged you would have been called ASAP, so take some comfort in that. GP’s, are faced with the large volume of patients and the lack of funding generally means they can omly refer you for a range of expensive tests if there is absolute clear justification, they are under pressure, their hands are tied to some degree and and at times docN make mistakes, if you are not happy you can request. 2nd opinion. I’m now in Oz, I pay to see my GP and so I omly make appointments when it’s necessary, my Gap will take a complete holistic approach to my ail,net, he can very easily refer me for an ultrasound, MRI etc, but again I will have to pay for these, my Gap also knows that if I’m not happy with the service I can go elsewhere, literally instantly, somwhilst a visit to the GP can end up being quite expensive, I do get peace of mind very very quickly and

On the face of it sounds unacceptably dismissive. I'm a bit confused - he did or didn't take blood for testing?

@PissyDressingGown You have confusion, weight loss, excessive thirst and fatigue? Presumably you're peeing a lot too?

This is REALLY important. Did he test your urine at all?

It sounds like you have the classic symptoms of Type 1 diabetes, so if he didn't test your urine for glucose and ketones then I would present myself at A+E asap if I were you. Tell them you suspect type 1 diabetes. Please don't wait.

Great that they don't think it's cancer-but what are they going to do about looking into what it is??

I can't actually get an appointment to review the blood tests as they're fully booked up for more than two weeks.
Let’s have your surgery open on Sunday shall we, or bank holiday Monday? Staff being allowed time off, shouldn’t be allowed according to you? Why is your results any more important than anyone else’s?

i'd tell him to fuck off, but thats just me and my experience.
born with a birthdefect,doc told mom i would never walk.became a ballarina for most of childhood.and still hike and rock climb.
age 21-horrible headaches.so bad i would hit my head on a wall to "change" the pain.docs wanted to do brain biopsy to see where the tumor was.friend took me to other doctor who diagnosed and cure massive sinus infection.
small swelling in lower abdomen,first doc insisted it was gyno problem,no testing or imaging done.back to headache doc.was unhappy gallbladder,put me on a liver cleansing diet and tea.swelling was gone in a week.no problems since.
firm believer in second opinions.

Did he give you forms for blood tests or not? And did he examine you, in particular the lump? Those are the two things I would expect him to do.

The only time I had this was when the GP said 'It doesn't look anything like an infection'. 3 hours later I was in HDU with septicaemia, closely followed by organ failure.

In answer to your question OP: I'd feel that my concerns had been dismissed and make a 'book on the day' appointment on Thursday to go through the blood results. In the interim keep up your fluids and eat little and often.

I suspect he's trying to reassure you that it doesn't sound like a sinister cause. He should have examined your abdomen though.

That would be totally normal for a GP to say. I think you're being overly sensitive.