*Breast Cancer* - private or nhs treatment?

[Mamabadass]

I am awaiting a biopsy result for a lump in my breast, consultant says highly suspicious and unlikely to be benign.

So I need to plan ahead!

I have access to private health care through my work. My nhs service/oncology hospital (clatterbridge on The Wirral) has a good rep.
What would be the pros and cons of private v nhs.

Any feedback gratefully received!!

My breast cancer care under the nhs has been exemplary.

But if you can access free private health care you get better choices on appts and nicer hospitals. I think you usually see the same consultants.

Second what foofoo says- it just makes treatment smoother and more convenient.

Ditto - started at the NHS breast clinic but went to the local private hospital for treatment. I'm seen every appointment by the the same consultant (vastly experienced head of the unit) and have access to a slightly wider range of treatments than NHS can provide. One consultant said to me it was like going club class ... You get to the same destination but in more comfort.
And the food is better!

Like lily maid I started with NHS and then moved to private. Saw the same consultant but the experience was a bit nicer (nice lunch during chemo, antiemetics without demanding them, private room after my mastectomy).
If your results do indicate cancer, please come and join us on the Tamoxigang thread on general health, we're a supportive bunch!

I also started NHS then moved to private for further tests and treatment.

I also saw the same surgeon and same oncologist that I would have seen on the NHS - the differences being that I always saw the consultant (rather than 1 of 'the team') and appointment slots are longer so there is more time to discuss things, things worked slightly quicker, I had choice of appointment and treatment days/times, I had quicker access to some meds (so automatically got injection to raise WBC etc.) and of course the food was better!!
The basic treatment plan and the outcome would have been exactly the same under the NHS but it just made things a bit easier and slightly less unpleasent. At the start I dithered about going private (mine's also through work) but I'd say go for it.

I was dx under the NHS but had private insurance which I used. Because of that I had access to taxotere which was not then available on NHS for primary bc with no node involvement, and Neulasta , a very expensive but effective alternative to GCSF, to boost white cell count.
My op was done by the consultant and all follow up mammos etc have had same hour results so no anxious waits. I'd go private every time.

Private. Will pm you

If you have the cash then fine but just to say my treatment under the NHS was pretty fantastic too and no quibbling about costs of treatment (and I had pretty much everything thrown at me). Yes, a private room after my mastectomy would have been nicer than hearing the lady in the bed next to me talk all night but I was in for less than 24 hours anyway so hardly essential. You will get anti-sickness drugs too with the NHS so don't worry about that.

Gee!! Thanks folks for speedy feedback - pls bear with me as I am new to mn and chatting malarkey so still trying to find my way around whilst having my head full of shit!!

Seems to be a common thread here, awaiting my insurers to wake up and a response from my local private hosp too- thanks again to each and every one of you - it means a lot !!

A couple of things to consider (not had BC but mum aunt and gran have and I have worked in both NHS and private hospitals).

A private hospital will be more comfortable, better food and private room.

But, the NHS hospital you will probably be on a ward in a bay with other women who have had the same treatment/op.

In a private hospital you will have nurses who are general surgical nurses, the NHS may (not always) have specialist BC nurses. When my mum had her first op one of the nurses was quite happy to show the results of her own mastectomy and reconstruction, she had decided to specialise after her own treatment.

My mum made friends in the NHS hospital who she met up with again in her support group and hospice.

Personally I would prefer to go private, I'm not the type of person who wants/needs other people to compare notes with, my mm is.

BUT before you go in to your local private hospital check who they employ 24 hours a day. Legally they do not have to employ anyone with medical qualifications, generally they do, but over night they usually don't have the staff you would in the NHS.

So although at your out patient appointments you will always see your consultant not 'one of the team' if there is an emergency or you need to see a Dr in the middle of the night or just when your own consultant is not about then you will not have access to either your consultant or one of 'their team'. At one prestigious private hospital the Dr who is there 24 hours a day (yes singular, just the one) was an ob/gynae Dr because the hospital had a maternity unit.

My preference would be to go private on a private ward in an NHS hospital or a private hospital that undertakes work for the NHS. This way you get all the nice things about the private treatment but if you need to see someone at 3am then there is someone a short walk away, not at home in bed needing to be paged and to drive in.

I've been through the nhs system so far too for surgery and rads. I was a day patient in a hospital very close to home for surgery and for rads it would have been the same machines as nhs patients so no advantages there. We do have BUPA cover and I'm interested in what thegreylady says about follow ups. If I can have future mammograms done privately and get instant results that's something I would definitely do, so thank you for that tip. I'm not sure I'd benefit from extra drugs at the moment , but I know that's on offer. Hopefully it won't come to that.

My mums treatment under the NHS was outstanding.

Going private will mean more convenient appointment times and a bit more luxury.

Good luck OP xxx

I agree with sashh that with NHS treatment you are more likely to meet others in the same situation etc. which I think i did miss out on by going private.
However in my case I had a dedicated BCN always available plus immediate access to my surgeon and oncologist at any time - so actually in an emergency (and I had 1 surgical one and one onc one out of hours) I got consultant care straight away. Also both my onc and surgeon would ring me up as soon as they got results through so they could explain everything and there was no waiting for letters.

For interest (and I know this varies from company to company) - I get 6 monthly checkups and annual mammo for 5 years under my insurance. After that I'll pay myself for an annual check - it is in fact relatively inexpensive. Mrs- where I go I get a consultant appointment first and he does a check up then potter round for mammo, wait for films to be read then back to consultant for results.

Oh - and you can have chemo at home at a day and time to suit you if you want. Actually picc line care is done at home too - if you go down that route.

clatterbridge are amazing. v v good nhs care.

I also had dedicated BCN in private system who as I was a single parent went beyond the call of duty. She held my hand physically and mentally on numerous occasions, she would phone me to check I was okay and I had her mobile number.
On the day I got the all clear I was just relieved she was so delighted for me it couldn't be faked.

I don't have a dedicated BCN either but I know all the nursing team at the private hospital (they are all specialist oncology nurses) and have my consultant's home phone number - not that I have ever used it.
The oncology unit at the private hospital is a day unit 8-6 Mon -Fri, after hours you are referred to one of the wards in the hospital which have residential doctors 24/7 and who will call up the consultant for specialist advice or refer on to oncology at the NHS hospital ( which currently doesn't have a private wing but is one of the major cancer centres in Europe ).

If you can go private then great, but I couldn't fault my NHS care TBH.

I always saw consultant onc and breast surgeon at every appt - and rather than making you wait a week or two they added appointments to start/end of their already full clinics in the next day or two when they needed to (eg I had 08:10 and 18:00 appointments when sorting out kicking off chemo)

A dedicated BCN who used to phone results straight through, stayed late/came in early to support me through aforementioned appointments and called me after every chemo to check how I was doing, saw me after surgery to go through exercises, sort out softees, seroma draining etc. She was totally amazing.

A single room after my mx surgery

I got emend and neualasta (both expensive drugs) during chemo without so much as a raised eyebrow and just about every anti-emetic in the cupboard!

We even have a newish macmillan unit (opened about 2 years ago I think) with thick pile carpets, comfy sofas and free tea/coffee instead of the usual NHS style plastic chairs waiting room.

From the descriptions here about the only thing different was the quality of the lunch during chemo (we had soup and/or sandwiches + fruit and/or ice cream)

Thanks again all - I am truly grateful for your responses and kind advice. I am hoping to speak with the Hospital &/or consultant tomorrow and will also ask my Gp for advice too x

I will beat this shit one way or another!!

Have to agree with everyone else - my treatment was exemplary on the NHS, but, as you have the insurance anyway - all paid for, then I guess it would give you a bit more luxury / choice.

Also, my private hospital felt less like a hospital, so think the kids found it easier when they came to visit. (Was in 2 nights). Small thing, but it's often the small things that add up! And no problems with free parking etc.

good luck with it all

maybe a mix of both eg private room after op?

(parking is free at clatterbridge with appointment letter )

Thank you - having had an initial chat with myGP whom I trust implicitly I have decided to stick with NHS for now at least - but I am keeping an open mind !! Thanks again to all u lovelies for the taking the time to respond x

Private is often same consultant but better surroundings and things like no restrictions on visiting hours and a calm surrounding would be nice if available to you
Check out support services if private, not sure if you would want to access them but worth finding out
I'm sorry you are having to go through this and wish you well x

Hi folks - was D day yesterday!! Not great news but not the worst either

Lump is cancer - grade two 2cms - op (lumpectomy - or whatever proper term is) booked in for the 20th. Gotta get my BP down for that though so taking meds, accupunture and will meditate too.

Feeling confident and quite strong despite the shittyness of it all

Decided to stick with NHS after convo with GP and other NHS patients.

Thanks all x x

Sorry to hear your news mama. I had NHS treatment last year and was happy with it, like others have said they are the same consultants anyway. Do come over to the tamoxigang thread if you'd like some support and hand holding ( would link but am rubbish ! )