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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

157 replies

Warszawa · 20/09/2023 20:04

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"

Chris Evans at BBC Radio 2 on May 17, 2019 in London, England

Chris Evans tells listeners he is now cancer free

The Virgin DJ said he had undergone surgery last week and received "excellent news" on Tuesday.

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

OP posts:
Fairyliz · 20/09/2023 20:45

00100001 · 20/09/2023 20:11

They treat suspect cancer really quickly.

No they don’t.
DH spend five MONTHS trying to get an appointment for suspected skin cancer.
Finally gave up and went private.

AngelinaFibres · 20/09/2023 20:45

I have a friend whose dad was in the navy as a young man ( now 83). Lots of time in the sun. He has had 47 skin cancers removed from his head,neck and face over many, many years . The older he gets, the more they are changing into melanomas .He phones the surgery, sees a doctor, they refer him to the same consultant every time. The latest mole, dodgy patch of skin, area they don't like the look of is burned away or cut out within 2 weeks. Some of them have left dips in his skull because of the amount of tissue they have had to remove. He is otherwise fabulously fit and healthy.

CatusFlatus · 20/09/2023 20:46

I had a breast lump checked out earlier this week. Mammogram, ultrasound and examined by a surgeon all on the NHS within a week of me noticing the lump. All OK.

Same excellent experience as pre-pandemic.

Kinneddar · 20/09/2023 20:46

A friend of mine phoned for a GP appt as she was concerned about symptoms she had. Got a same day appt, had a hospital appt within days & started chemo literally a few weeks after her GP appt.

Is now thankfully all clear but couldn't fault the NHS time frame at all

notahappybunny7 · 20/09/2023 20:46

I found a lump in my breast, gp appt next day and seen at hospital within the week.

gravitytester · 20/09/2023 20:49

Told DM that I thought DGM had a squamous cell carcinoma on a Thursday, she saw her GP the Friday, it was removed the following week.

Cosyblankets · 20/09/2023 20:53

EdinaMonsoon · 20/09/2023 20:18

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.

As previously stated there's often a two week pathway for suspect cancer

Equimum · 20/09/2023 20:53

Our neighbour was diagnosed with cancer in May. His surgery has been cancelled three times and he doesn't have another date yet!

HaddawayAndShite · 20/09/2023 20:55

My dad went from diagnosis of kidney cancer to removal of kidney within 4 weeks and this was height of covid in 2020. FIL went from diagnosis of prostate cancer to treatment within weeks too. DHs aunt also went from diagnosis to chemo for breast cancer very quickly. I’m sorry if anyone had experienced anything otherwise. Is this a case of postcode lottery again? All 3 of my relatives are in different areas.

AngelinaFibres · 20/09/2023 20:55

I had a breast lump before the pandemic. I was absolutely terrified. I was told that I would be seen within 2 weeks. My husband had family BUPA cover as part of his salary so I asked whether going private would be even quicker. I was told that if I saw the same consultant, but in a private capacity, I would have to wait until July. I found the lump in May. It was a big cyst in the end. Seen,drained, discharged within 2 weeks on the NHS.

HangingByYourFingernails · 20/09/2023 20:56

IME the NHS 2 week pathway for suspected cancer does what it says on the tin. There are other bits where the NHS waiting lists are awful, (a relative is currently on a 3 year waiting list for specialist counselling and it took over 6 months to even get on the list) but the basic path from GP to initial scans is mostly fine.

Willyoujustbequiet · 20/09/2023 20:57

Yanbu

I was put on the 2 week pathway for a suspicious mole. It took 7 weeks to be be seen.

tirednessreigns · 20/09/2023 20:58

My experience of the NHS for cancer treatment has been fab once referred. Getting the correct GP to listen though was tricky but as soon as there was a lump, I was seen by a specialist within 4 days. Same with suspect moles-very quick response from GP.

chinateapot · 20/09/2023 20:59

My daughter had cancer age 6. She got a same day GP appointment and a next day hospital appointment. There were various misdiagnoses then which were no one’s fault but ultimately she started chemo 6 weeks after that original GP appointment. The NHS also paid for her to go to Germany for 6 weeks for specialist radiotherapy because it wasn’t available in the UK at that point - her treatment was absolutely outstanding and (in some ways!) we feel very lucky.

Scienceadvisory · 20/09/2023 21:00

It's taking me 3 weeks to even speak to a GP on the phone.

My relative was pushing for a check pre covid. The NHS fobbed him off for months and kept telling him it was likely nothing. Then covid happened. He now has stage 3 cancer and needs an operation but has been told to expect a minimum 12 week wait.

They could have stopped this at stage 0/1 but they didn't. And now his life is at risk and treatment is much more intensive. Worse is he's had melanomas before and lost family members to it. They should have removed the mole to be on the safe side as soon as he raised it.

Pressthespacebar · 20/09/2023 21:02

I was seen in ten days when I was out on the 2 week cancer wait thing. Must be dependant on area.

PurpleMonkeys · 20/09/2023 21:06

A woman was on TalkRadio earlier, I was flicking through and they were talking about drs striking

She was meant to have an op for cancer in January, it's now September. They found a lump a few days ago that looks suspect but couldn't take a biopsy so now she's left waiting with this unknown terror for months upon months.

It's horrific. If you've money in this country, life is a flower bed. If you've no money, life is a bed of sharp nails and a razor wire blanket soaked in salt water.

emilybr · 20/09/2023 21:06

Rich people shouldn't be using the nhs

ltappleby · 20/09/2023 21:06

I’m almost certain my husband has a squamous cell skin cancer - he sent a photo to the GP today and the GP has given him an in person appointment in 9 days time, no referral.
DH’s photo is identical to examples shown on the internet, so why the delay?

User1789 · 20/09/2023 21:09

I was hospitalised with an ovarian cyst while on holiday abroad in June, including detection of a potential marker for ovarian cancer, though risk is small. Got GP appointment 10 days after my return who immediately re-ran bloods and booked me in for an urgent referral to gynaecology.

Had a scan to reevaluate cysts about 3 weeks later. Was booked in for gynaecologist appointment to go over that for 14th August. That was cancelled due to junior doctor strikes and rebooked for 5 September.

Gynaecologist has agreed to surgery to remove cyst, carry out exploratory laparoscopy to see if endometriosis is to blame, and biopsy cyst for cancer just in case (though all doctors I have seen think it is v unlikely). I have a pre-op appointment (I presume with a nurse due to strikes) tomorrow and surgery is booked in for two weeks after that.

If it all goes according to plan, it is all well within the 18 week time frame, despite waiting lists and strikes. I am impressed actually.

Over a decade ago, DH found a lump on his balls on Monday, was persuaded to call GP on Wednesday and was seen the same day, and had a scan that Saturday. All was fine luckily.

It does work whenever anybody mentions cancer ime.

Maria1982 · 20/09/2023 21:09

Another one with good experience of 2
week cancer referral.
I had a breast lump - GP saw me promptly, had mammogram the following week. (Luckily it wasn’t cancer).

emilybr · 20/09/2023 21:10

Vinvertebrate · 20/09/2023 20:23

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.

Yes it's a slow cancer and not a priority.....

MotherEarthisaTerf · 20/09/2023 21:11

00100001 · 20/09/2023 20:11

They treat suspect cancer really quickly.

They can do.

Last year my mother had cancer on her nose. Referred to dermatologist who (after a long wait to see them) agreed it was cancer but needed a biopsy - she waited so long she went private in the end.

Took about a year and she lost almost half of her nose as it spread.

Admittedly the delays will also be due to pandemic - but even her private surgeon had a long wait list as the surgery was specialised.

pilates · 20/09/2023 21:13

Close relative diagnosed with bowel cancer - surgery within 2 weeks.

Vinvertebrate · 20/09/2023 21:15

Yes it's a slow cancer and not a priority.....

Slow but not stationary! Also shows it’s a huge post code lottery. It’s my second BCC - first was treated with Mohs on NHS promptly. Second (different area) - feck off to BUPA or accept an open-ended wait.