Two week wait cancer pathway; its going to be more than two weeks surely?

[ILoveaSunflower]

I've been referred on the two week cancer pathway for a colonoscopy. Recent tests revealed low iron levels and a positive stool test indicating internal bleeding somewhere. Im also suffering with daily diarrhea.

I'm absolutely bricking it (pardon the pun) and have convinced myself it's the worst. My brother in law and stepdad both were treated for bowel cancer recently and I lost a friend to it a few years ago.

I've been referred on the two week cancer pathway but have not received an appointment yet. The two weeks will be up on Wednesday.

I phoned the appointment line to chase it up and was told they were "breaching" whatever that means? And it could be up to six weeks?!!!

I'm not going to be seen within two weeks am I?
Could do with a hand hold and some positive stories if any out there.

I have no experience of bowel ca but have worked in cancer services in the hospital. "Breaching" is when the number of 2 week wait referrals exceeds the number of appointments so the wait time is increased. This goes all the way to the higher ups and 9/10 we would offer consultants overtime to increase capacity. The trust has to report 2 week wait figured to the govt so we would always find a way to bring down the wait.

I hope it all works out well for you - I hope this gives a bit of comfort that you will be seen soon x

My brother paid £2000 for a private colonoscopy last week. He was given an NHS appointment for seven weeks away, which was subsequently cancelled. He was also bricking it so decided to pay. All was fine, he didn’t have cancer but does have a massive load off his mind.

I’m also being referred for a colonoscopy under 2 week wait as well - but I work for the NHS - and our 2 week waits are a joke. I can’t even get a blood test for 11 days!

I do know that our dermatology 2 week waits are currently sitting at 8 weeks - so my chances of getting an appointment for bowel within 2 weeks are slim to fucking none, so I’m very fortunate that my husband has private insurance and I’m included so I confess I’m get mine done privately

I'm on the two week wait at the moment; on my NHS app I could see the referral wasn't even processed until a week after it was sent. I assume it's been processed now because all the details, including the phone number to ring with any questions, have disappeared and there's no sign I was ever referred anywhere. The closest I can get to finding out how long it might be is by reading the minutes from a trust meeting a couple of months ago saying that for that type of concern, 2ww is running at 21 days. But I wouldn't be surprised if it's longer by now. My GP told me to call the surgery if I hadn't heard within a couple of weeks, so it sounds like things aren't happening quickly as a matter of course right now…

It’s incredibly sad that this has been allowed to happen to our NHS. The cancer pathways with their strict timings were brought in to assist early diagnosis and increase survival rates. The state of our NHS now makes me despair.

OP my dh heads up our local Endoscopy unit, he and his colleagues are working flat out to tackle the waiting lists, and to get the 2 week waits in. But there just aren’t enough of them 🙁

I got a telephone consultant appointment within the two week wait, apparently that’s as fast as they go in our area.The colonoscopy two weeks after that. The Gp had pretty much diagnosed the problem though so it was just confirmation and double checking.

My mum is on the two week pathway at the moment- and to be fair they have just squeaked in with each appt in two weeks but it had literally been a call at 5pm for a next day appointment. To be fair I would say all the doctors and nurses have been bloody amazing but if GP services had not been so bad I honestly think my mum would have 'spoken up' earlier😥(She knew she had a lump in her breast for a good while before she spoke up )
She never told me until she eventually told the GP then told me. Fingers crossed so far its looking hopeful - even though she is nearly 80 she is not being written off and is having treatment.

Is there another local hospital with better wait times?
I work in a bookings team for an nhs trust and we have not breached a 2WW the whole 2 years I have been there, only exceptions are when the patient themselves are “too busy” to come on the appointment slots we are offering.

however I was seen by the breast department under 2WW (same hospital) and they saw me a month after my referral so different departments and different trusts have different waiting times.
6 weeks for a suspected cancer pathway is disgusting and I would be kicking up more of a fuss

That's terrible. I was on the 2 week wait for a gynae issue earlier this year and was seen in 10 days and had MRI the next day. Thankfully not cancer although it took 5 weeks for them to tell me that!

Hi op, just to pop in and give you a hand hold. I'm also in the grip of 'possible cancer wait'. Mine would be lung. I'm currently expecting a call in the next few days following on from a pet scan. Tough times. All the best . Really hope you hear very soon and that the outcome is a good one

I was seen within the week, I consider myself very lucky after reading these posts. Hope you get seen soon OP.

My gastro 2 week wait was 7 weeks. After 7 weeks I had a 2 minute phone call (not an exaggeration) to decide it’s not urgent and 8 weeks later and I still haven’t seen anyone! 😕

Breaching is when you're booked after the 2 week deadline. We currently have more 2WWs breaching than I've ever seen...partly due to vacancies in the consultant team, partly due to GPs referring more things as 2WW that really aren't because they know we have a 15 month routine backlog and partly because we don't have the clinic capacity, it's the worst I've ever known it

That must be causing you all a lot of stress polka — can you tell me, do patients simply not hear from you for several weeks, or do you get in touch quite soon, but with an appointment that's several weeks away?

I think I'd feel less like I was in limbo with a definite appointment, even if it's not for a few weeks (especially since I left it several months to go and see the GP anyway so it hardly makes much difference…), but at the moment I'm ten days on from being referred and with no clue what's going on.

I know your department won't necessarily work the same way as the one I've been referred to! Am just curious as to what might be normal.

I'm sorry to hear you are waiting too. It's just hellish isn't it? Any news? Hand hold back to you too.

I feel like this too, just totally in limbo.

Like you I have been suffering with symptoms for months but now a doctor has said there's definitely something wrong I just need to know now, this minute!

I would feel calmer if I had an actual appointment booked even if it was six weeks away. It would focus my thoughts.

Does breaching generally calm down or is it always longer than the guidelines?

I've been referred twice under the cancer pathway, both times I had an appointment in less than 2 weeks

I just got a letter this morning with an appointment for a particular test, in just over two weeks. I'm a bit surprised because I was under the impression this type of referral went to a sort of one-stop-shop clinic, where you'd have an examination and probably a couple/few different tests. But maybe separating it out like this for some people lets them get a few more patients seen by someone.

I hope everyone else waiting hears something soon — good luck OP.

And Star, that's appalling — must be so stressful.

Just an update. A very frustrating one .
Was at work on Friday and missed a call from NHS booking line who left me a message to phone back to book a telephone consultation with a consultant. Phoned them back on my lunch break, no answer, went to voicemail. And then repeatedly throughout the afternoon and no answer. Despite their voicemail saying they will be open to 430pm.

So I'm in limbo again until Monday. I just want to get the ball rolling and find out what I'm facing.

How incredibly frustrating… uncertainty about what's going to happen and when is really hard to deal with (at least for me it is, I assume it's not just me); I hope you hear something on Monday so you at least know what's what.