Cancer treatment. - NHS or Private?

[coffeemonster23]

Hi all, NC for this but long time user.

I have a suspicious lump in my breast and under arm. The GP has referred me for tests, mammograms, ultra sounds and biopsy. She spoke very openly and suggested cancer was highly likely.

I have private medical insurance through work but have never used it so have no experience of the private medical world.

Would you use the NHS or go private for these tests and potential treatment?

I know it sounds silly but I feel comfortable with the NHS, I know how it works. But I've also heard of friends and family having to wait ages for tests and treatment. Does that still happen in private?

Does anyone have good or bad experiences from choosing one Over the other?

Thanks in advance.

Two friends had cancer at the same time. One was breast and the other testicular. One was treated private and one nhs. It sounded like the private one was much more comfortable then the nhs. If you could go private, I would definitely take that option.

I would private if you can.

I'm sorry to hear of your situation. I hope it's not, but it's goid to have found it if it is.

As you have private I'm not sure why you wouldn't use it?

But I'm in the SE & my friend was diagnosed with BC a couple of months ago and there was no delay in assessments or treatments.

Private treatment might be slightly more comfortable or more convenient & also saves the NHS money, so I'd do that if it was me.

Best wishes 💐

Ps the ongoing cancer thread on here is brilliant, everyone welcome.

I went private - seemed mad not to use the company when I had been paying tax for the privilege

I called them the Thursday before Easter, they were closed for 4 days but appointment was the following Wednesday and got physical, mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy all done within an hour

Follow up consultation on results following Monday and then v quick with an op date too - mine was a wire guided papilloma removal

One thing to consider is that post op recovery is much nicer in a private room than being on a ward

NHS were great with the original appointment (same day!) but I felt I didn't want to take an NHS queue space whilst I had private option

Hope all goes well for you

Private.

Oldest ds has multiple myeloma and we do everything privately. It's just quick, convenient, comfortable, and takes so much of the stress out of having cancer treatment.

I was diagnosed on the 1st December with breast cancer and next week I finish my treatment. Fortunately I did not need chemo just radiotherapy. From start to finish it will be 23 weeks. This includes 2 operations. All my treatment was on the NHS. I couldn't afford to go private.
If you have health insurance then you maybe seen quickly.
Good luck with your tests and I hope its not too serious.
.

Private. The treatment will be the same (and possibly the same staff too) but it will be quicker and more comfortable. Seems crazy to have the insurance and not use it when you need it.

I have insurance from work and I would go private every time.

Once you have approval (usually a quick phone call and a few forms to sign at the hospital) then things should be smooth going. Often the consultants are the same as you would see on the NHS but I find they spend more time with you. Rooms are private for overnight stays and the private hospitals much nicer.

I’m in a similar position to Gouldengirl (up thread). My first operation was in a private hospital due to COVID while my second was in the NHS hospital next door - the two hospitals are linked by a corridor in the basement!
Depending on where you are, going private won’t necessarily be quicker but it will be much more comfortable and less rushed.

I have recently been treated for breast cancer on the NHS, I have private health care but chose not to use it as I knew the NHS would be just as efficient and quick. I cannot fault them, they were amazing.

Thanks for all your replies. I'm feeling slightly more optimistic having read some of the other success stories and seeing other people's positivity!

I did some research on the consultant I saw (privately) and she is consultant at my local NHS hospital too, so I see I would've seen her anyway, but just quicker using the private route.

I think I'll stay private and see how it goes. I'm expecting I will need an operation, radiotherapy and chemo based on the initial conversation, but having to wait for the biopsy results is torture!! He also mentioned a full body scan to check the whole body so that has put the fear into me too. My mind is going to some dark places, I have 2 young children (pre school) and just thinking of them and my DH. I need a big dose of PMA!!

You'll be a lot more comfortable surroundings if you go private. Most patients are just like yourself, people with work health insurance.
You may also get access to drugs you may not be able to access with the NHS.

If you go through NHS you will be given access to a cancer nurse specialist who can guide you through the NHS system and provide extra support. I was diagnosed with cancer during lockdown and I've found her help really useful and had no delay to my treatment.

A friend went private and fell into a hole between private and NHS, so whilst she had her chemo privately she didn't get any of the NHS wrap around support services. I feel she suffered as a result as she ended up in A&E numerous times because she couldn't access private advice out of hours.

You could ask about going NHS and then perhaps having some parts of treatment privately via insurance, but check first that this would impact future eligibility to ongoing NHS cancer care.

Private all the way.
Everything will be quicker and much more comfortable. I just had a stint in hospital for surgery (not cancer) and I couldn’t believe how amazing the care, attention, food, and facilities were. I’m not knocking the NHS but given the choice, I wouldn’t use their faciiities given the backlog and pressure they are under. Saying that, my friend was diagnosed with BC and she was diagnosed very rapidly by the NHS in London recently.

I went private for breast cancer treatment and had a specialist BCN so they are not limited to NHS.

hmmm I don't know.....private is comfortable and nicer rooms etc than the NHS but I wonder what access to "non standard" treatment they have? For example, a friend had bc treatment and was approved for a couple of drugs trials when the first line of attack didn't work as hoped. Would you get that in a private hospital??

A friend is currently undergoing cancer treatment on the NHS - they have been wonderful and very speedy. She has private cover, but the specialists at Royal Marsden have said she is getting exactly the treatment they would give her. I think the people being diagnosed at present is low, hence faster treatment.

The only thing is whether there is any drug that could be prescribed privately, that isn't available on the NHS. But you can ask those questions.

But, if I had private cover, I would use it.

Good luck!

I also think you'll have to pick up your own bill for prescriptions if you go privately and have out-patient medicines to take.

Private 100% not only will you be seen quicker but you are more likely to have access to a wider option of treatments that may be deemed too expensive for the NHS e.g. my mother was given Herceptin for her breast cancer which wasn't available on the NHS at the time (I don't know if you can now)

I was diagnosed and started treatment in the NHS and went private after 9 months because I never felt like I was getting care on time or with focus in the NHS. My diagnostics were a mess and I had to go to four different hospitals in three different trusts to get scans done, and the lead diagnostic hospital was an hour away on public transport, despite Barts being less than a mile from my house. Treatment was always a time suck - two days before oncology visit I had to do bloods, then treatment day had a few hours wait, and then an hour for pharmacy to get it together, and inevitable oncology delays. Covid hit and one of my treatments was stopped completely.

I got fed up with being passed around to various registrars and oncologists and said enough, I'm using my insurance to go private. I picked out an MO who specialises in my situation and made the switch. So far its been a vast improvement and I feel more confident in my care and she feels like a partner. The BCN actually has time to listen and solve my issues, and we work together on scheduling around my life, not the other way around. I will be able to access a certain drug because they were able to test for BRCA mutation that NHS won't because I don't have family history (surprise!). Treatment day now takes about 4 hours and includes bloods, MO visit, treatments, pharmacy stop.

Im not getting a raise or bonus at work this year, so I figured I would use my health insurance for all its worth. I do have one prescription insurance doesn't pay for, but its free through the NHS anyway because I am a cancer patient.

DH started chemo the very same day he was diagnosed (after jizzing in a cup just in case we want future babies) and all his treatment has been amazing. NHS. BUT I would say it depends on what area you are in as some trusts are stretched and can't provide the treatment as efficiently as ours.
But on the whole we have been sooo happy with the nhs. We could have afforded private but it didn't even cross our minds with how efficient the nhs have been.

Good luck, Op.

@Annonnimoouse42

You'll be a lot more comfortable surroundings if you go private. Most patients are just like yourself, people with work health insurance. You may also get access to drugs you may not be able to access with the NHS.

Not true about the drugs.

Please join us on the Cancer thread in General health and sorry you find yourself in this place.

I was diagnosed with one cancer in Nov 20 and then two weeks later with a second cancer.
I had the first cancer treated privately but after I had all the scans etc on the NHS. The nearest private oncologist who could treat both cancers was 34 miles away and I started treatment there. The course of treatment I had included 25 sessions of daily radiotherapy for which the centre organised a taxi to take me to and from. I also had weekly chemo so the taxi dropped me off on that day and DH picked me up at night.
The problem came for me when it came to surgery for my other cancer and the private hospital were only doing NHS work. I would have had to wait 4 months. I contacted my NHS breast care nurse, got a private appointment with the surgeon for the following week and have had NHS surgery within a month. I can also claim a cash benefit for using the NHS from my private insurance.
I need to decide whether I continue in the NHS or go back private but I can claim £100 a day for NHS treatment and might be able to claim enough to pay for a holiday.

I started privately and had all my diagnostics through my insurer. I was then referred back to the NHS for treatment. I also got to be part of a clinical trial which wouldn't have been available privately.