Breast cyst. Awaiting diagnosis. Please advise.

[shiningstar2]

Hi. Basically I discovered a small yellow cyst on my nipple a few weeks ago and saw my GP on 8th July. She referred me to the one stop breast clinic in my local hospital. She said the appointment would come through to be seen within two weeks. I duly received a letter from the hospital. Not an appointment. Apparently they are extremely busy so they had me on record and if not appointment by 24th July I was to ring the hospital.

24th July came around. No appointment so rang the hospital only to be told it would be 6-8 weeks because they were inundated. They advised I should ring my GP to see if an appointment could be made elsewhere.

Duly rang the GP who said she would try for an earlier appointment elsewhere. A secretary rang later that day offering me an appointment under the NHS at a private hospital further away. Fine. I would take that. Still meant a wait until 8th August 5.45 pm but at least I had an appointment.

When the confirmation letter came it said if appointment not convenient it might be able to be changed. OK I thought see if can be brought forward. Managed to get it brought forward by 2 days to next Tuesday. Again 5.45 pm.

It occured to me while on the phone that these 5.45 appointments seem late in the day for a one stop clinic if scan and/or biopsy need to be done as I thought that type of out patient staff would have left by then so I asked the receptionist about this. She said I wasn't down for one stop and it would depend on who was available.

Quite concerning as this is a whole month after my initial appointment with the GP. So I rang the GP for clarification. She hasn't rang me back yet. The practice nurse says I'm down for one stop on my record so it's 'probably' ok. I am concerned in case when the GP's secretary rang around to get a quicker appointment one stop wasn't mentioned as the private hospital doesn't have this down.

Is this acceptable? I thought that if it turns out to be cancer early diagnosis was important. I am away on a pre arranged holiday the week after. I know I wouldn't be getting any treatment that quick but I definitely don't think I should have to wait until I'm back to get a diagnosis when my initial appointment about the breast problem was 8th of July.

Sorry for length. Is there anybody out there who has been referred with a breast cyst having to wait so long? Thank you to anyone who has got through all of this and replies.

Similar situation to you - saw GP yesterday, surgery booked me in for breast clinic tomorrow. Hospital just called and said no appointments and to wait 6-8 weeks.

Looks like the Tories broke the 2w urgent referral.

Shit, isn’t it. Just about to call GPs to tell them.

Good luck x

Thanks for replying Bunnyfuller. R u in the N.East of England by any chance?

No, I was referred to Hinchingbrooke, Cambridgeshire. I spoke to my GP who is just as horrified and she’s changed the referral to Addenbrookes, appt next weds morning.

Do you have an alternative hospital your GP can try for?

I’m North East And was seen within 2 weeks for a different type of problem (colon)

Bunnyfuller: I had no appointment at all with the first hospital ...only info saying it would be about 6 weeks. They did get me an appointment for next Tuesday with an alternative provider. The problem is the first provider was going to be a one stop clinic where scans, biopsies ext would be done the same day.Unfortunately the 2nd provider, the one who could give me an appointment can't guarantee a one stop clinic so now I'm wondering if I did the right thing in accepting that appointment. By the appointment date it will already have been a month since my GP appointment when I was assured I would be seen within 2 weeks. Will just have to wait and see what happens on Tuesday.

Borntobeamum. Thank you for replying. It's helpful to know that you were seen within 2 weeks in my area. If I have to wait much longer for a diagnosis I will push to get all necessary tests. Good luck with your treatment.

13 week wait here in NI for a breast cyst... I presume if cancer was suspected it would be quicker but our waiting lists are awful in general so who knows. They're trying to close our main Breast Cancer Assessment unit here too, so lists would be even longer then

That's an awful long wait UpTheLagan. Have you waited that long? Hope not.

I’m in Scotland and I’m currently waiting to see someone at the breast clinic as I found a large lump in my breast. My referral was put through as urgent as my mum has had breast cancer and I have previously had thyroid cancer.
When I get seen in a couple of weeks it will be 6 weeks since the referral was made. Apparently there is no maximum wait time for urgently breast referrals in Scotland.

Yes, I'm waiting at the minute, my appointment is in a few weeks time. But it could be much worse... there's a 4 year wait for Neurology at the minute!

That's awful @8misskitty8 🙁

I'm in the north east and got an appt for breast clinic within 2 weeks when I had a lump. This was around September last year though. Which hospital is it you are waiting to be seen at? I was referred to the QE in Gateshead which has a specialist breast unit we also have a health centre locally which runs a weekly 1 stop breast clinic.

Its awful to see so many long waiting lists at a very anxious time. Starlight2004 I was referred to the RVI and when it turned out the waiting list was long they found an appointment under NHS at a private hospital. Problem now is my GP is not sure if this new appointment is a one stop have all necessary tests on same day or not. If it's not it might have been better just to wait for RVI appointment. Will just have to wait and see.

The evening appointments at my local private hospital are all one stop shop. They’re open until about 10pm and you tend to be in and out in about 45 mins. See the consultant, downstairs for mammo and ultrasound, straight back to consultant

Also in NI. I had severe pain in my right armpit. Saw doctor Wed 17th and hospital booking were trying to ring me next day but I missed the call. They rang me Fri morning and had appointment for Wed 25th. This was my 5th visit to this one stop breast unit. Fortunately all was ok and because I had been before they were able to compare my scans with previous ones and nothing had changed in 6 years.

Had been here for a lump back in 2004. After mammogram I had an ultrasound and when they put a needle in it totally dispersed proving it was a cyst.

They did say on my letter confirming my appointment that the process could take up to 3 hours and that sometimes results could take longer and not be available that day.

Yes they are trying to close this unit and do not relish driving to the closest unit to me at a Belfast hospital and negotiating the city traffic.

Thank you applepiececream. That is reassuring. Glad things were ok Celticrose. Hope the unit near you isn't closed.