To think Chris Evans experience of cancer treatment isn't common ?

[Warszawa]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-66863274

I saw this article about Chris Evans having skin cancer removed. He mentions in the article time is of the essence and to get symptoms checked out - good advice of course but practically is that possible any more?

it's great that he got early intervention, but I've spent the last two weeks trying and failing to get a GP appointment for a fairly urgent matter.

I wonder what the experiences of "ordinarily people" ie those without the wealth to give access to private medical care are like? It doesn't mention in the article if he was treated on the NHS

Im not really looking at it from a political angle ( NHS has obviously been ran into the ground) I am interested to hear of peoples experiences - was it a battle to get seen etc

My AIBU is " I don't think you or I as a person reliant on the NHS would have had a similar experience to Chris, esp post pandemic"

I had a concern about skin cancer. I was offered a same-day GP appointment, who referred me to the hospital dermatology clinic. I was seen within three days.

I think fast cancer treatment is fairly common place on the nhs. I have a close relative who had his prostate removed only a handful of weeks after he first went to his doctor for symptoms and another who had an area of skin cancer removed within a similar amount of time.

Why are you failing to get an appointment?
Does your surgery offer an econsult? Your doctor needs to respond with actions within 2 days via that.

They treat suspect cancer really quickly.

Does your fairly urgent matter involve the cancer referral two week pathway? If not then you aren't making a fair comparison. I think you may be conflating conditions and their associated referral times to make a point.

@SiousieSoo luckily no it doesn't - I definitely don't know about pathways etc - not wanting to make a point really just was interested to start a discussion so thanks for the info

I had suspect either BCC or SCC skin cancer so not as urgent as melanoma and got referred, had a video appointment a week after the GP referral, told most likely BCC, had surgery at outpatients 3 months later and a biopsy on another suspect patch. Waiting for results now. I was pleased with my treatment and thought it was quick for what it was, it was on my leg rather than my face. Skin cancer is probably quicker than other things as it is mainly outpatient so no bed or operating theatre needed, my excision took about half an hour.

I think sadly you are right OP. I heard him talking about the session with his masseuse when they pointed out the potentially problematic mole. He said that he would not have thought there was a problem. So from the off, the balance is weighed against the average person who probably doesn’t have someone with relevant knowledge regularly working on their body and therefore noticing change where we ourselves might not. Then there’s the experience vs expectation of the medical system. I have had 3 breast lumps investigated, all within a week of seeing my GP courtesy of BUPA cover. I don’t think the same applies to NHS - they simply don’t have the resources. And it makes me so angry because I know how anxious I felt during those times. A wait of weeks/months would have been intolerable and yet is the experience of the many not the few. So yes, early detection saves lives but sadly access to detection is limited.

I had a suspect mole and I must say they had that nipped out within the week (NHS).

Mind you that was back when you could get a GP appointment, which was key.

I had to go private to get a BCC treated promptly. When I queried the delay I was told “we don’t treat that as cancer here because it almost never spreads”. Never mind the word carcinoma eh?

clap, clap.

A friend of ours went to the doctor on the Monday and started chemo the following Monday.

I had endometrial cancer three years ago. Biopsied, diagnosed and operated on within a month.

Our GP is a nightmare for appointments but to be fair to them I rang up and said that I’d found a breast lump so what was the best time to ring for an appointment as obviously I was worried and they sorted an appointment within two days - and normally there a ring at 8.30 and take your chances place.

Our surgery is brilliant. My husband had a tender patch on his forehead that kept flaking and didn't go after several months. He phoned the surgery. Next day appointment given with the practice nurse. She took a photo with a magnifying lens thing which was sent to a consultant dermatologist at our local hospital. He diagnosed Actinic Ketosis. A powerful cream was prescribed which he has been using for a month. The condition will be reviewed next week.
I had breast pain . Phoned the surgery one afternoon. The receptionist said a Doctor would ring back. He rang within 10 minutes and said to come in at 8.30 the next morning. He referred me to the breast clinic and I was seen within a week. I had a full examination with a consultant, an ultrasound and a mammogram.
None of this was private , all NHS.

I had a mole start bleeding suddenly, called GP, was given next day appointment and then seen by dermatologist at the hospital a week later. June 22. I am In Nottingham. Our GP surgery is fantastic though.

Nah, you are wrong. I’ve had two referrals for skin cancer, seen within 14 days both times. No doubt Evans went privately in any case.

I had suspected skin cancer removed within 3 weeks of initial Dr's app.

I think if you wanted a look at the difference between rich and the average person, mental health is better than cancer, having experienced both, I will say I was straight onto a two week wait for suspected cancer and got the results through very quickly, also my dad who does have cancer, has had fantastic support with everything.

On the other hand, I have been on the waiting list for mental health support for a year and this is with a massive history of mental health problems. Where as I have people who can afford private care telling me to talk to someone on adverts

My husband had to go to our GP about a testicular lump, he was seen the same day and in for an ultrasound two days later. It was specialist who did the scan so he had his results the same day as well, which was good as it meant our worries were soon gone, it also meant if it was bad news we weren’t waiting days for it.

My mam had cancer a few years ago. GP ordered blood tests on the Friday. Blood tests taken on Monday evening and by midnight on that same Monday, the tests had been ran and an ambulance picked her up to take her straight to hospital.

By the following Friday, she was starting her first session of chemo. 5 years later she’s still in remission.

I understand that it’s not like that for everyone but far as I know suspected cancer referrals are treated urgently on NHS within 2 weeks.

My sister went to her GP with suspected skin cancer (BCC) and was referred to the dermatology clinic but had to wait five months to have it removed.

I've heard him talking about his experience on his show - and I really like him usually, but I've found it a difficult listen. My DM wasn't so lucky and to hear him going on 'last week I had cancer, this week I don't' this morning - it was a very difficult conversation with my DS as to why that wasn't the case for his nanny... I know he's only trying to raise awareness but..

To be fair DH went to the GP about a lump on his arm, seen within two days referred immediately and had it removed in less than 3 weeks from the first call, in a clinic who seem to just do this kind of thing rather than a hospital, they then tested it and it was benign so he didn't have any follow up treatment. All NHS in a really densely populated area. Our GP came up on a national list recently of the 50 gp surgeries with the lowest ratios of GPs to patients!

I don't think it's universally great. Friend was told Cancer in April and stage 4 in June. That's 3 months to get through all the tests to staging.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/e761f6d0-37b8-11ee-8810-d3022cd752ba?shareToken=0faf3ec4aef86ed8878212ba81743d68

I'm glad those people who got speedy treatment did so. Meanwhile, 40,000 people have had to wait longer than two months to start treatment.

Though my suspected skin cancer was acted on very quickly -and it turned out not to be cancer - sadly my experience of getting diagnosed for breast cancer was very, very lacking, and it took months and months while it spread all over.