What the fuck do I do?

[Bakewellisntjustacake]

I have suspected lymphoma but they can't rule out breast cancer because after my MRI which showed 3 big lymph nodes in my neck and chest, I did a breast exam and found a sizeable lump that I hadn't noticed previously . My issue is my referral to the breast clinic has been cancelled because the hospital I have been referred to has been inundated with covid patients and they've moved staff from out patients to covid wards.

They have cancelled my Wednesday appointment and rebooked me for November, all the rapid access appointments have been cancelled and my county won't allow my GP to refer out of area. My Gp is beside herself because she's so angry, but says there is nothing she can do other than write me a letter I can take to other hospitals. I have 4 hospitals near me but none can accept a direct referral from my GP because they're not in the same area.

I've written to my MP to complain but it just feels like an absolute death sentence

I can't even believe this is real. I don't want to believe this is real. It sends shivers down me.

November! Fucking November??

I knew things were bad but I had no idea it was that severe.
Please take that bank loan to go private. Beg, borrow and steal.

My fingers and toes are firmly crossed for you.

Really feel for you. Keep on at them. I hope you are seen soon!

I never thought I’d ever say this but I do so hope the Daily Mail picks up this story.

What an appalling situation you are in.

exLtEveDallas I am so sorry - this is the worry we have for my sister x

Thanks for the information about changing hospital etc - all useful

Yes the one time I hope the Mail pick up a story

Write letters/emails to the Chief executive of the local NHS Trust, local NHS Commissioning body, Chairman of the local council health scrutiny committee, Director of Public Health at the local council and also your MP. Copy your MP into every letter you send, this means it is more likely someone senior will see your letter and personally review the response.

@VaizyCrazyDaizy what sort of amounts of money does this take? I have no concept of what it equates to?

Thank you @watchwithinterest and @ghostyslovesheets it’s a bloody awful mess and the family is reeling. We are all hoping for a miracle, but, well, we know that’s not likely, don’t we

@Bakewellisntjustacake

I have suspected lymphoma but they can't rule out breast cancer because after my MRI which showed 3 big lymph nodes in my neck and chest, I did a breast exam and found a sizeable lump that I hadn't noticed previously . My issue is my referral to the breast clinic has been cancelled because the hospital I have been referred to has been inundated with covid patients and they've moved staff from out patients to covid wards.

They have cancelled my Wednesday appointment and rebooked me for November, all the rapid access appointments have been cancelled and my county won't allow my GP to refer out of area. My Gp is beside herself because she's so angry, but says there is nothing she can do other than write me a letter I can take to other hospitals. I have 4 hospitals near me but none can accept a direct referral from my GP because they're not in the same area.

I've written to my MP to complain but it just feels like an absolute death sentence

I'm a GP and I can send a two week wait cancer referral to any of about 8 different hospitals. Your GP should be able to refer you elsewhere for the breast lump.

This is awful to read, i really hope you get some answers soon.

I agree with others who have said to go to A&E, at this point anything is worth a try

Is someone setting up a go fund me for the op?

The NHS is woefully underfunded and not fit for purpose at the moment. I’ve had to go private and the bills are eye watering. It’s cost enough to change how our lifestyle looks for many years.

Nothing is more important than your health.
Call a private consultant. Today.
Remortgage the house. Sell the family jewellery . Take a loan. beg, borrow and steal.
Get yourself seen and get yourself well.
I’m sorry you’ve been failed by our health service. They’ve let me down too.
I wish you all the luck In the world and a speedy recovery .

All of this is such a heartbreak. Private consultations can be quite expensive in the UK and I've known people to obtain the imaging a private consultant requests in other countries where it's a lot cheaper.

Travel and quarantine makes that a no longer viable route in some countries but it might be possible for others.

A medical travel agency might be able to advise people.

OP, if you set up a gofundme, I will contribute. I went private during the pandemic, with a mole that started changing / bleeding, due to a similar story (but it was a long wait at the GP stage already). Thankfully all was OK in my case.

Can you get a referral to the Royal Marsden. It might be cheaper to travel to/stay in London than pay for private appointments?

it’s an almost inevitable consequence of what happens when a totally free health care system experiences a pandemic

FGS it is NOT a totally free health care system and what’s happening now has nothing to do with how we pay for it. You think private health care insurance is the way to go have a look at the US.

Covid is definitely part of the problem but also a convenient excuse to cover up the fact that It’s been chronically underfunded for a decade. Going into this mismanaged from day one by mr let’s all still shake hands bloody Johnson, the NHS had far fewer ITU beds per 100000 than Germany for a start. And years of lack of funding to train UK doctors and nurses rather than counting on overseas recruitment etc etc etc

None of that helps you OP and it must be so scary . Absolutely show up on the doorstep of your MP’s constituent surgery because it’s on them to remedy the scenario they’ve created.

The NHS is a mess atm. I have a problem which needs me to see a GP for examination, but actually getting a face to face appointment is like pulling teeth. GPs are still insisting on video appointments, and are diagnosing virtually. There are signs at my surgery plastered on the outside saying under no circumstances should people enter the building. It’s utter madness. It would be interesting to see figures in respect of people who have died as a result of the current set up. I’m guessing many cancer patients have developed terminal outcomes as a result of the delays in diagnosis and treatment. I’d echo what others have said OP - go all out to make sure you are seen asap. The most vocal amongst us are those who get results.

So sorry OP and to the others going through this. I’d also happily contribute to GFM.

An absolute disgrace. You have the stress of the diagnosis and this on top of it. Your GP sounds as though she may be of some help?

Could you put the facts down and email them to just about everybody? Saves doing it over and over again.

If you can scrape the money together, do private.

I third or forth a go fund me page. If you do please link on your thread if allowed so i can contribute. I would try every option suggested here too. Im so sorry you are having to go through all this and also fight to be treated.

Start a go fund me and ask your friends and family to donate, I’m sure they would all donate as much as they could to help save your life. I’m so sad and angry on your behalf, you shouldn’t have to do this at all but go private once you have raised the money. You don’t deserve to die and you just can’t wait 2 months to be helped.

Definitely get in touch with your MP, this is definitely within their remit. I'd also talk to your local CCG because I don't really understand why they have banned out of area referrals. Are you in England or the rest of the UK?

Hi op whereabouts in the country are you? I work in private hospital and if you need a breast consult I could see whether we have anything available?

The NHS isn't fit for purpose, covid has shown that, it makes me so angry, I have a close relative with a aggressive and terminal diagnosis who has effectively been abandoned by the NHS during the pandemic, whereas I have friends who are in other countries, with worse covid rates, who are accessing cancer care within a week

Your MP should have a constituency surgery today, with details on his / her website. Go if you can (if not, phone on Monday and ask for an emergency appointment / call ASAP next week). Ask them to get their office to call the CE of the hospital you need - I’ve seen this work before. The name of an MP carries weight as there’s an implicit threat of bad publicity at a national level.

I just feel like they've gone 'oh it's not covid it's fine'

I have so much empathy for you OP. Can you do a go fund me and advertise/send your predicament to local yv broadcasters and other media to highlight this type if civd related scandal?

I know you can't advertise a go fund me in here, but I really want ti help you and would happily coordinate sending PMs to others who'd want to help you.

I'm a similar position with a life threatening condition. It started one year ago this week. It took 7 months to see the relevant qualified specialise, despite (at that time) 5 emergency/critical admissions and another 5 since May. They know the primary symptoms and these have been extremely well observed and documented yet I still hadn't been allowed ti havw the relevant diagnostic tests. I could be dead by tonight and my GP surgery have not once allowed me an appointment to discuss it (and the fear).

Very best wishes to you, and if you'd like my help I suggested above I'm happy for you to PM me.

It is absolutely disgraceful.