AIBU to think this referral to breast clinic is taking too long?

[billeth]

Lump in my boob. Found 3 weeks ago. Took 12 days to get a GP appt. They referred to on 2ww to breast clinic. This was a week ago, so I'm now at nearly three weeks in this horrible limbo. I hear about people getting same or next day appointments with their GP then very quick turnaround at the breast clinic, but I feel totally forgotten. GP says it is out of their hands now, and when I call the breast clinic through the hospital switchboard it just rings out. Just fed up of being scared whilst I wait and just want to know if I have breast cancer or not.

Yes it is, but the NHS is swamped. It's hard, but I hear all the time that the waiting bit is the most difficult, so in theory it gets easier from here on. I'm just about to come out the other end so would like to send you a little ray of light down the tunnel.

So it's only a week since you've seen a GP? Sounds fine to me.

The gp's will refer to it as a two week wait but actually it no longer exists as the government scrapped it. Breast clinics are inundated. It took 5 weeks until my first appointment, six weeks more for the second, then another four weeks for the op, then four weeks for results.

My trust moved from 2ww to 4 weeks recently.

Once I was seen at the breast clinic everything moved very quickly and I had several different tests on the same day. I did end up being diagnosed and had surgery within 4 weeks of my first appointment.

But the vast majority of those referred don’t have cancer. I know the waiting is tough though.

Thanks I didn't realise it wasn't a thing anymore.

Thank you. My grandmother had breast cancer in her 30s, my aunt in her 40s, and my mum in her 50s. I feel like I'm going a little bit mad. I'm a single mum and very scared. I hope you're ok now

It took me 8 weeks from seeing the GP to being seen at the clinic. I was referred to a different trust because the one my doctor is in had a 12-14 week wait. Originally they said 9 weeks then it got longer. I did get my results on the day which was good but that 8 weeks was awful.

Wow 8 weeks. The NHS is really suffering isn't it. I hope you are ok now

Once you get an appointment it will all be done on the same day and you'll come away with a good idea of whether it's cancer or not. Definitely tell them about your family history because even if all is well now ( and it probably is) you might be offered extra screening in future.
Keep ringing, if there's never an answer go back to the switchboard and ask to be put through to a different number.

I'm currently waiting for genetic testing.

A friend of mine from Norway said her sister was referred and seen the same day, cancer diagnosed 2 days later, treatment started a week later! It's not until you hear of how they do things in other countries that you realise how used to slow and ineffective practices we have become.

@billeth whilst we all appreciate that the NHS is under huge pressure, given your familial medical history, please do not hesitate to contact your GP to follow up, ie today or tomorrow.

That you also had to wait 2 weeks just to even see your GP, is not acceptable.

It is vital to be proactive and chase your appointments @billeth, diagnosis in your case could absolutely be time critical.

Good luck.

Thank you, yes fortunately it was just a cyst but while I was waiting I over analysed and googled every little twinge and ache. One evening I collapsed sobbing in my partners arms because I had backache and was 100% convinced that it meant I definitely had cancer and it had spread to my bones. I am not normally overly dramatic but that 8 weeks did a real number on my mind. I hope you have a good outcome. I would say try not to worry too much but that’s much easier said then done.

YANBU OP. I hope you get an appointment soon; the worry caused by being in limbo is awful. When DS was diagnosed with a brain tumour, we were told he'd be dead within 3 months without treatment...then we waited over 2 months for treatment to start...

Depending on finances there are a number of ‘one stop shops’ you can pay for via Bupa or similar. They will do an examination, mammogram, ultrasound and, if needed biopsy at the same appointment. About £1-2k.

@billeth you must be so worried. It's awful how things are going. Yet they say waiting lists are going down. Stay strong. It's a long road.

It’s a 2 week referral from the GP. I have advanced melanoma. It took me 3 weeks to see the GP, but I was seen in hospital in 5 days.

The great thing about the breast clinic is that it’s often a one stop shop. Everything will be done in one day. Whereas I was seen at hospital in 5 days for photography, then booked in for biopsy 2 weeks after that, then biopsy results took a further 4 weeks. My big surgery was 5 weeks later. I saw the GP end of July, cancer not removed til end of October. You will have answers much faster than that because of how the breast clinic works. I would not go private. It will not speed things up unless you plan to stay private.

It's disgraceful that your GP left you waiting so long tbh

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress and I hope you hear soon

Phone the hospital switchboard. Ask to be put through to hospital appointments. Confirm that your GP referral has been received. Confirm it has been classed as urgent not routine. Ask what the current waiting time to be appointed is. Then you’ll know what kind of wait you are facing.

You can book breast screenings privately through window to the womb for a couple hundred. They then refer on if needed but not sure if youd still need the initial nhs tests. Hopefully you hear from the nhs soon though and best wishes

This. Keep pushing. Ask to be put through to the unit secretary.

I will try again tomorrow. Maddening that the two week wait is gone. Not sure why GPs are still referencing it. You'd think that the reason for two weeks was because this was a safe zone for leaving people waiting. The fact that it has now increased due to shortages in the NHS is so frustrating, as it is clearly not safe leaving people waiting months which from what I am reading, is not uncommon. I am so so worried.

I’m sorry op, it is shit. I had the same, the wait was horrific, (couldn’t even get a GP appointment for 4 weeks!) so I went private. All done and dusted in 24 hrs (it was a cyst). Appreciate I’m fortunate to be able to do that, but we really shouldn’t have to.

The horror here is
your GP waiting to see you 12 days later. Do you they not offer on the day urgent appointments? A lump would qualify. Or if the receptionist was being nosy and tried to say it was routine I’d refuse to tell them
what it’s for!!

our trust is very good for breast clinic referrals both times I’ve been in the same week. Hopefully you hear in the next couple of days

Two week wait changed a while ago. I know it doesn’t help when you are waiting in the unknown. Up to 6 out of 7 lumps reviewed by breast clinics turn out to be benign.

i agree the waiting is the hardest part and have everything crossed for a good outcome.

My friend had a docs appointment quite quickly for a lump. She was put on the 2 weèks path but actually was 4 and a bit purely down to the numbers. She has just been , had a thorough check up scans etc and spoke with the consultant and thankfully it isn't anything to worry about.

She did worry and it wasn't great that the wait was longer but everyone else on the list also needs to be seen!