Nurse mentioned Oncology, and now I'm concerned

[FlatToppedTree]

I'm confused and I want to offload as it's going to be a long few days for my results. I know no one can answer or provide reassurance but just need let it out, if you know what I mean.

I was referred on the 2 week referral by GP for an endoscopy. I had endoscopy on Tuesday and they took 2 biopsies and the consultant verbally mentioned a polyp, but no mention of the polyp on the report. Consultant referred me for CT scan which happened today. Nurse took 5 attempts to insert a canula, and said if he can't insert it he will have to refer me back to Oncology. I've had no contact with the Oncology department . I didn't question this at the time (obviously wish I had), but now I'm wondering if this was a slip up, or a mistake, or they know more from my endoscopy than I do 😭.

Or have I totally got it wrong about which departments deal with what?

I dont think anyone here can give you the reassurance you want

When is your appointment due?

Hi OP

Sorry to hear you’re anxious, nothing worse than not knowing.

I assume you must have been bleeding etc or having symptoms for them to investigate possible causes?

To my knowledge polys, cysts etc are just that but they need to make sure they are benign, so they’ll take a sample. Perhaps all ‘growths’ are checked out by oncology until they give the all clear?

Hopefully that’s all it will be. You could always phone up tomorrow and explain that you’re very anxious and could they give you a bit more info if that’s the procedure for polyps, cysts etc....

Xx

Definitely call up! Put your mind at rest.
I was referred for this/CT on 10th Dec on a 2wk wait and I’m still waiting 😢 Well, numerous calls and lots of dead ends.

The Doctors who referred have chased it, every day is such a worry x

Possibly if they want to do a radioactive dye scan? I had to take dd to oncology for one, not cancer related

A 'Two Week Wait' referral is a request from your General Practitioner (GP) to ask the hospital for an urgent appointment for you, because you have symptoms that might indicate that you have cancer.* *

Did your GP not explain that to you? Sometimes GPs refer using the 2ww to try and queue jump but they should have explained what the referral meant

@GoldenBlue I am bleeding somewhere as indicated by my FIT test and my very low Ferritin levels. My general feelings of being unwell were what prompted those tests above.

My first 2wk referral I was seen within 1 week and they ruled out Gynae issues (I have history here) and that night I had a call to say my FIT test came back abnormal and because of my Ferritin and Haemoglobin, I’d be seen before Christmas.

Unfortunately I have family history of bowel cancer and personal experience of someone close who died suddenly from it. So my fears are likely heightened!

Try not to panic, the majority of tests that relate to cancer are negative and will put your mind at rest.

It sounds like they are performing the tests needed in a good timeframe to ensure you have good care.

Fingers crossed for you

@GoldenBlue Thank you. It’s more complicated as I was booked for major surgery, so this is holding that up. But I guess after tonight’s lockdown that would be cancelled anyway!

X

I wouldn't read to much into the oncology comment. They probably read 2 week wait on the form and said oncology instead of 'the team rather referred you'.
As said above please remember that only a teeny proportion of patients referred on the 2WW pathway have anything serious - i think it's about 3%.

Hi OP. Obviously nobody can be certain but just to reassure you I had the same experience once. I was going into medication that can cause lung issues so was sent for a chest x-ray first. The radiographer asked me if I was going back to oncology afterwards. Of course I started worrying about what they'd seen. That was nearly 15 years ago and I'm still kicking!

In hindsight, I think because the drug I take is sometimes used in chemo they'd assumed that's what I was taking it for. I know it's hard but try not to read too much into it.