GP appointment - emergency ?

[boilinthebag]

I need advice. My DS (26 and at home) has found a lump on his arm. It’s hard and immobile. He is not worried but I am very. I managed to persuade him to phone the GP and they’ve given him a telephone appointment in a week’s time. Is a potentially cancerous lump an emergency ? Would I be justified in trying to get him an earlier appointment ? I think these things need to be seen asap and I’m not sure the receptionist would have understood the nature of the lump.

I wouldn't say it's an emergency in the way of A&E but I would try and push for a face to face appointment sooner.

Well, when I found a lump (that had rapidly grown) on my shoulder recently, my GP wanted to see me that day to have a look at it. Once she’d seen she determined I didn’t need to be referred on the two week pathway but I was referred as a non emergency as it needs removing. The only way she could rule out the two week pathway was to see me in person, which she arranged immediately.

Easier said than done but try not to worry too much. It could be a lipoma. I've got loads of them and they are hard, immobile lumps in my arms and legs and one near my ribs.
I hope everything is ok xx

Thanks so much. That's very helpful.

I’m sure the receptionist understands what lumps are. Is it possible he didn’t explain it clearly enough?

You are quite right. It is very likely. But also I may have given him the wrong advice ie. to ask for an urgent appointment. I realise now that it is up to us not the receptionist! I should have just told him to ask for an emergency appointment and then they would have seen him the same day, instead of shilly-shallying around. I just didn't realise that in the current climate to say 'urgent' would mean telephone appt in a week's time. Foolishly I expected the receptionist to see the real urgency and make that decision for me. It is up to us to define whether it is an emergency or not.