Suspected cancer clinic appointment today

[thirdistheonewiththehairychest]

Hello,

I'm wondering whether anyone who has been through this can tell me what I can expect from my appointment today? If I need scans, will they do it at this initial appointment or is this just a chat and I'll be in and out? Will I actually be told anything today or will I get results at a follow-up appointment?

This has all happened so quickly. Only had the referral 4 days ago, already had my bloods taken on Monday and this appointment has come through already. I feel like I haven't had a chance to get my head around it.

Handhold for you, it's such a worrying time. Which cancer is suspected or area of your body is being examined? knowing that will help others answer your concerns?

It entirely depends on what and where the suspected cancer is. My local breast clinic does a one stop clinic for example but another service may take weeks for results to come back.

Good luck today. I hope it goes well.

It's an unusual swelling in my neck, perhaps a thyroid issue but the GP was concerned because the swelling was 'lumpy' and more on one side of my neck than the other.

I had a lump in my neck, I had already had an ultrasound at the point I saw an ENT.
When I saw the ENT the lump was too small to do a biopsy, so I had a second appointment for an ultrasound guided needle aspiration.

Sending best wishes to you today, the waiting on results is always the worst part.

It’s hard to know how the clinic works, but I think more than likely today would be a chance for them to talk with you about your blood results and have a look and feel of the lump. And then if necessary, you would have scans (CT, possibly also MRI) and fine needle aspiration booked in for the next week or two.

My situation was slightly different as they already knew I had cancer (melanoma) when I was referred to specialist for a swollen lymph node in my neck. The consultant appointment he felt the lump and all the surrounding lymph nodes, then explained what the plan was, scans and fine needle aspiration (biopsy with an ultrasound) and then we’d have another appointment in 2 weeks to go through the results and have a firm plan for what was next.

He discussed a little bit about what the surgery would involve, but for me, it was more about seeing how far the cancer had spread before we could decide anything, because I already knew I had cancer. So basically anything neck up he could handle, but anything neck down had to go to oncology first. So he kinda just talked me through if this, then this, or if this happens, then we’d do this.