Urgent cancer referral, delays in biopsy results, NHS is broken.

[NotWaitingPatiently]

In June, I saw my GP because a new, very suspicious-looking mole had appeared. GP made an urgent referral under the suspected cancer pathway and said I should be seen in 2 weeks, but that it might take a bit longer.
I was eventually seen at the hospital almost 5 weeks later; the mole was removed and sent to the lab to determine if it was melanoma. I was informed there was a backlog at the lab and results were taking longer than they should. They also said I would get a letter if it was all clear, but a call with an appointment if they needed to see me again.
I had the biopsy on 14th July.
After months of worry, chasing up, complaints, and absolute frustration with the delays, I got a call last week with an urgent appointment for today.
It's not going to be good news, and I am so worried that the delays will have allowed the cancer to spread.
My health board has previously been criticised for delays, but nothing is done. I am beyond frustrated. If I hadn't been constantly chasing and made an official complaint, I think I would still be waiting. When I spoke to dermatology a week ago, I was told: "It's taking 3 -4 months; in the meantime, try again in 2 weeks".
The system is broken.
The suspected cancer pathway target in my area is for diagnosis or an all-clear within 28 days of seeing a GP, and for treatment to have started within 62 days of seeing a GP.
I am now on day 107.
I am worried sick. I am almost certainly going to need more surgery and possibly a lymph node biopsy. Will I have more delays? It's terrifying!

Yes. As a GP I agree the system is broken, it's very frustrating to work within. I hope your news isn't as bad as you think xx

Thank you. I will know by noon.
I really feel for the health professionals who are desperately trying to work within a broken system.

Same here and I have cancer. I did however start treatment day 62, but ive been told once they remove the tumour pathology is taking a long time to see if theres csncer cells left. If there is, I have no treatment in the mean time so itll probably spread. I am so grateful to the nhs but when it comes to this, it really isnt good enough.

I hope youre ok, just remember medicine has come a long way

I also work in the NHS, and yes the NHS is really failing some people, its heartbreaking for my colleagues to see and, of course, not good enough for you and other patients and their families and friends.
Good luck today x

We urgently need an European style insurance based health system. However no government will bring this in as it would be an election loser. So the Uk stumbles on. Some areas it seems to work better and some it’s terrible.
It’s difficult to watch and one of the main reasons I worry about coming back to
live in the Uk.

How absolutely horrendous for you OP.

I'm currently dealing with an extremely upsetting situation with my own Health Board. Not comparable with yours OP as it's not physically life threatening but the stess of it is making me want to self harm and has thrien me into black depression. The situation has arisen as a direct result of the cash strapped position my Health Board is in - one of the worst two in Scotland and it's on the verge of bankrupcy. The absolutely uncaring and callous way the admin staff have handled, what for me, is a devastating and unjustified decision beggars belief. So I am in the throes of trying to handle the complaint procedure . I feel utterly betrayed by an organisation which in theory is supposed to care about me and my welfare but which in reality doesn't care a jot and actually doesn't even see me as human.

It's so frustrating. I see my health board posting on social media about new initiatives and all I can think is "you need to get the basics right first"
You can't get an appointment for a routine blood test around here in less than 4 weeks.

DH was referred last year on a 28 day faster diagnosis protocol. He did receive a diagnosis by letter just after the 28 days, but it was day 164 before he saw an oncologist and got a treatment plan. I tried to complain, but was given to understand that this was normal, and they were doing their best.

Diagnosis of melanoma, stage 1b
Thankfully, it was all removed, but I need to have some more skin removed and a skin graft, and they will check my lymph nodes at the same time.

I feel relieved and very lucky that they removed it all; otherwise, the long delay in getting the result could have had serious consequences.

I won't fully relax until the graft is done and they check my lymph nodes.

What makes you think such a huge reorganisation and introduction of a massive bureaucracy would help waiting lists?

Yep, OH diagnosed in June and still waiting for an op date. He has had one lot of treatment

What frustrated me was that after biopsy it took three weeks for diagnosis ( when I had biopsy I got the results within a week) then it took three weeks for a letter to be sent to a consultant then three weeks for an appointment.

At the moment it hasn't gone to his lymph nodes but the waiting is worrying

oh I'm glad to hear that OP, phew! (well, relatively phew - no-one likes a cancer diagnosis - but could have been so much worse)

This happened to my husband last year into this year. Pathology was the delay but he did have to have a wide excision and two lymph nodes removed.
would recommend silicon tape for scar tissues after and don’t under estimate the tiredness that goes with.
Had mole removed October, diagnosis late December, WIE in mid March, all clean mid June.
Not quick but to give you reassurance if the mole has already gone it’s statistically likely there is little chance of a spread .
Doesn’t mean that you have to be ok with it though.

Please all tell your. MPs. It's just horrendous it really is I don't understand why we put up with it

Do PALS not help ?

They try!
I went through PALS and made a complaint too.

I think I would still be waiting without the complaint. I was due to have a meeting with the pathology manager but the results suddenly reached my consultant. I had phoned the day before and been told try again in two weeks 😡

I work in the nhs as admin in dermatology and we do not have enough doctors to cope with the amount of referrals. We ask the higher management for more doctors and get told no money.

Where I work we track every single cancer patient and chase doctors and pathology daily to get answers for patients and prioritise them to be booked. It’s so frustrating! And I tell as many people to complain to PALS.