ENT 2 week pathway - what happens at that appointment?

[WorriedNotWell]

I went to see dr about something else as I was feeling under the weather and wondered if a medication I’m on needed tweaking and she questioned me about hoarse voice and examined me (I’d had flu a few weeks before and it’s clearing slowly). She said she would refer me to an ENT specialist first. I didn’t take too much notice as I was more anxious I didn’t get the other referral until after this was checked out.

I didn’t realise it was a 2 week pathway or suspected cancer until I rang up the hospital clinic to move the appointment I’d been sent and person I spoke to told me it didn’t matter what I had that clashed this appointment was more important as I was being investigated for cancer and that I mustn’t delay this appointment. Tbh she scared me I’d no idea and she was so adamant that I couldn’t go for a slightly later appointment it made me think it wasn’t just a ‘rule it out’ appointment.

Doctor had also sent me for blood tests (I thought relating to what I’d gone for) and it was a full blood count (which was all normal) and a C reactive protein which was 21 mg/l which doesn’t sound good.

I’ve no idea what this ENT appointment might entail and how long after that before I get any results, has anyone already gone through this and have some idea what happens next? I have a slight sore throat nd feeling like there’s something in my throat which I hadn’t thought anything of but I guess that’s not a good sign.

Most of the time it will just be a talk about your symptoms and an examination - looking inside mouth and feeling around your neck (and possibly looking inside ears but it doesn’t sound like your ears are an issue!)

They may also do a flexible nasendoscopy - this is passing a small camera down your nose to the back of your throat so they can see the vocal cords.

If they are worried about a neck lump or your thyroid they sometimes do an ultrasound (and biopsies) on first appointment as well.

If all looks ok they may reassure you there and then, but afterwards you will usually be referred for more tests - generally scans or X-rays - but possibly also further camera tests to look at larynx and take biopsies if needed, and then follow up arranged with results of this. Usually results should all be back within 2-4 weeks.

Hope it all goes well

@WanderingGiraffe thank-you so much!

If I’d realised it was a possible cancer referral I’d have asked the GP these questions, not knowing what would happen next was really stressing me.

I can't really add much to what @wanderinggiraffe has said, but from my DH's experience, depending on what they find in the initial consultation and nasendoscopy (I hadn;t realised that was what it was called) it could be quickly followed by an appointment for an X-ray and/or CT scan (In fact, I think in his case they fitted it in to have it all done the same day as we could wait around a bit).

Later on he twice had to have biopsies taken, which was done under General Anasthetic as day surgery.

The 2 week pathway referral could simply be to speed things along (otherwise you’d probably be waiting 6 months to a year for a routine appointment), and if you need this one before the other, that makes sense.

I wouldn’t be too worried about the c reactive protein level. 21 is higher than normal, but very typical for someone who had an infection a few weeks before. I do have cancer of the head and neck (melanoma) and my c reactive protein was 250 at one point, which was primarily caused by treatment and not the cancer. My consultant said it was high, but not so high that they would be concerned.

They should have explained. I just don’t understand why communication in the nhs is so bad.

@mindutopia

I wouldn’t be too worried about the c reactive protein level. 21 is higher than normal, but very typical for someone who had an infection a few weeks before. I do have cancer of the head and neck (melanoma) and my c reactive protein was 250 at one point, which was primarily caused by treatment and not the cancer. My consultant said it was high, but not so high that they would be concerned.

Thank-you! On the nhs chart 21 looks bad but I’ve no terms of reference and I did wonder whether flu a few weeks ago could be the reason

Agreed, I’m usually good at picking up when there’s something I should be asking more questions about so I was really shocked I’d apparently missed being told this is why I was being referred. I assumed the Dr thought I’d maybe damaged my larynx coughing and this is what the ent referral was for and I was still asking questions about what I’d gone in for.
My gp sent me a customer service questionnaire which I’ve tried to complete twice saying about the poor communication but it’s crashed both times before saving, I’ll have to try again.

Just wanted to say thank-you again to everyone who responded here, last night was first decent nights sleep I’ve had since that phone call and it was because I now feel I’ve a bit more idea what is going on so I’m considerably less stressed. It’s still scary but that’s normal.