If you are diagnosed abroad what happens when you get back to the UK?

[EachandEveryone]

Does anyone know the process is it still the 12 week pathway? A dear friend had holiday insurance by chance fell and was diagnosed with a fast moving tumour this was all done within a week biopsy, bloods. Scans, operation and next is chemo. Obviously she needs to come home for the chemo onwards. Does anyone know what the process will be as she has the diagnosis on paper and scans and everything? Does she go to her gp? Could she email the oncologists themselves?

there aren’t many treatments for what she has but recently they have made some tentative progress with immunotherapy which is only at one hospital in the country so what happens to everyone else how does it all work I’d be grateful for any advice.

im having treatment myself but a completely different cancer and I remember those early days of waiting it would be a shame if she had to go through that again at a uk pace when it’s already done

I am so sorry for your friend and that you are going cancer treatment as well.

We had something similar in our family when moving back from the US, it was a growth, serious but benign which could be controlled using a prescription drug. My relative had copies of all their scans, test results, and prescriptions which were submitted to the GP's surgery when they registered as a new patient. The GP had no problem accepting the test results, renewing the prescription and referring to a consultant. This was mostly done over the phone as it was around the time of COVID lockdowns.

I would suggest that your friend gets copies of everything - tests ran, results, prescriptions, medical notes. If they are registered with a GP phone and ask what format is best for things like MRI scans, Xrays etc. We had everything on CD. If they are planning to register with a GP decide on which surgery and again ask which format.

They already have a uk gp I think they are just terrified of having to delay the chemo

Unfortunately they very likely will, i would look at paying for the first month or so of treatment whilst the NHS creaks into action

Hello, I was diagnosed with breast cancer while living in Hong Kong, and decided to move back home to undergo treatment with the support of family. I called my GP the first morning I was back in the UK, and they immediately got me in for an appointment that morning. As I had confirmation of cancer from the HK doctor, they skipped the 2 week pathway and referred me straight to oncology for next steps, at a specialist cancer hospital. So no need for scan/biopsy etc, as I already had the diagnosis. I arrived home on like the 14th June, and had an operation booked in for the end of June, then I started chemo early August.

Sorry I'm not sure if this has happened to your friend while on holiday or while living abroad but the hospital processed me and put my treatment plan in place, at the same time I had to prove I had moved home permanently and was not just back for free NHS treatment. I did this by registering on the electoral roll and I think showing a letter from my employer that I had left HK for good.

I did not pay a penny, they were able to confirm my citizen/resident status, whatever it is they needed, to show that I am a UK resident and eligible for NHS services before anyone tried to bill me for anything.

Best of luck to your friend.

If your friend has a GP, they can phone them and ask for their email address. Then doctors can email the surgery with all the info (copies of whatever she will be leaving with - scan, letters with diagnosis and their own credentials etc….).
Id make an appointment before leaving too,