Brain MRI suspected tumour

[doubleot]

Hi,
Ds had an MRI for a suspected brain tumour around 8 days ago and we were told 2-3 weeks for results. I called today and was told that his neurologist hasn’t been at his job at my hospital since the scan (he works at 2 other hospitals and one private place) and was told to call back if we hadn’t heard in 2 weeks time. As it was an MRI to check for a brain tumour, would we have been contacted by now if they found one even though our consultant hasn’t been working at our hospital? Would he have to see it and then contact us or would the hospital call us without him knowing? Worrying myself a lot here, but is no news good news?

Can you call your GP and ask them to call on your behalf? It might be that they will be given any details from the scan, which they might just give you.

If not, did you speak to consultant's secretary? They should be able to contact the consultant wherever he is.

Hoping you get news soon!

Gosh you poor thing. Such a worry. And time ticks slowly when you’re waiting for results.

I’d deffo ask your GP. They can often look on the system also, and see results that are up. If not, they can contact the consultant and get an answer quicker than 2 weeks I’m sure.

I really hope no news is good for you. I’d certainly think it is. Keeping fingers and toes crossed.
Please let us know

Flossie, from personal experience if most hpspitals suspect it could be nasty they move fast. When my youngest had an MRI it was made within hours of a very suspcious x-ray that the consultant had not told me about. I thought the MRI was due to the complex nature of her still healing hip fractures. We were called within 12 hours by a peadiatric oncologist nurse asking us to present with her at their specialist cancer clinic. In my daughters case she has fiberous dysplasia [a form of benign bone lessions that behave and look like tumours and do need similar forms of surgical and pain management to bone tumours.

Second the advice to call the consultants secretary and go via your GP to act as an advocate to speed the results up. I hope the delay in hearing from the hospital brings better news than you have been expecting.

Part of my husbands terminal cancer is in his brain. We have to wait at least 3 weeks for scan results as the NHS is so understaffed, the only time we have had an MRI and had the results back that day is when he was admitted to the hospital after having a seizure. If he is having any symptoms I would suggest calling an ambulance, they would either give him another scan or hurry the results of the one you are waiting for. The other option is going private and you would get the results in a matter of days.

Usually if they spot any significant signs on a scan, they will react immediately.
I had a problem with my heart, they wouldn't let me leave the hospital until a cardiologist reviewed the scan and spoke to me.
I know it's difficult but try not to worry yourself, I would leave a message with the secretary requesting an urgent call back. If you don't hear by Friday, you can get in touch with PALS and leave feedback/complaint.

Hi if you ring 01482 875875, the hospital number, ask for the number for Pals, Patients Advice and Liaison, they will check out what is going on and make sure you get to the bottom of it ASAP. Good Luck

Hi my little boy had a MRI and they found a brain tumour. If the radiologist sees anything suspicious (and he would if it was causing symptoms) he calls straight through to Oncall neuroradiologist who then can look at the scan immediately via computer. I hope this reassured you. From my son's MRI to being transferred to another specialist hospital was approx 5 hours.. they don't hang about

My daughter was referred urgently to a&e last year after presenting with symptoms (and crucially after an eye appointment at Specsavers). She had a MRI the next day and within 2 hrs was diagnosed with a 6cm tumour in the front of the brain. In my experience (and through talking to many other parents) when something sinister is suspected the radiologist messages through to the dr/consultant and they send the images through electronically. They don't delay. In my daughter's experience she was operated on 10 days later. I can't say for sure, but everyone I know through the teenage cancer trust had their initial results through on the day. Check up scans can take longer as more difficult to read (up to a week). Hope this reassures!

Please don't listen to PP and ring PALS. And I would avoid going through your GP, trust me they're not going to be able to speed anything up and it's a waste of their time to be blunt. I get the frustration but this is the current state of the NHS. So best thing to do is to ring the consultant's secretary directly, who will ring radiology to chase up the scan or at least find out what's happening.
Hope no news is good news.

If the consultant can chase it with radiology directly that's probably more effective than the secretary.

Why would you tell her not to ring PALS?

If something has been missed because of holiday/sickness it needs to be caught ASAP.

There is no need to stamp your feet and make a fuss at this stage but politely chasing it up is perfectly reasonable.

If you don’t have previous hospital experience or the number for the consultants secretary (I hoard hospital extension phone numbers) then pals can point you in the right direction.

They are the patient advice and liaison service an ideal suggestion for someone who needs advice and/or liaison.

It’s not equivalent to suing the hospital, they are there to help explain the hospital stuff the overstretched medical professionals don’t have time for.
They are there to be your friend if you aren’t lucky enough to have one who can help you.

op.

First port of call is secretary to consultant. It’s their job to make sure his balls don’t drop while he’s away.

Ask to clarify if he has seen the scan. It should have been recorded if he has and he may well of left reassuring notes.

If he has not seen the scan you need to politely insist that it is I looked at by his cover at the earliest opportunity.
Make sure to follow that up by the end of the day

If you don’t have the direct number you may be able to get it through the hospital switch board by asking for your consultant by name.
If that doesn’t work then call pals and they will help you find who you need to speak to.

Because why would you waste time speaking to PALS if you know you have to speak to the secretary/consultant directly?

Try them all. I've needed PALS on more than one occasion, they came up with the goods. By now, no doubt, you will have already contacted someone, good luck