GP has really panicked me. Should I complain?

[Bookist]

Had a lump/swelling appear on the outside of my upper left thigh in November. Nearly the size of my palm. Not hard (slightly soft). Not coloured. Not hot. Slightly tender sometimes. Occasional pins & needles sensation down outside of the leg. I think I noticed it a couple of days after doing a lot of physical exercise all day?

It's still there maybe slightly larger, not sure. So went to the GP today. She examined it. I mentioned there is a history of DVT in my family, to which she replied (and these are her exact words) "It's definitely not DVT, so no need to worry about that. I'd be much more worried that it might be cancer or a tumor."

I think I went into shock. I'd gone in thinking I'd torn a muscle or maybe bursitis, and she started talking about cancer! I was so shocked that I couldn't think to ask any questions. She then said she would refer me for an UltraSound and sent me on my way.

I can't believe she would be so brutal and callous, even if she does suspect it might be something sinister. I really don't know what to think, I think I'm still in shock. But surely there's better ways of speaking to a patient than this?

Oh I see

Sorry, I must have misunderstood, my apologies.

When is the U/S?

I assumed this was on AIBU, but it's not.

If you can't post in General Health without posters working off their shit day/shit life on you then that's really sad.

You can't win as a GP... I do clinical medical negligence work in my spare time, and I've seen as many complaints about what the OP describes as I have from people who fail to attend their scan or follow up because their GP didn't make it obvious enough that it could be something really serious....

... How many threads have we seen about people, or someone they know struggle for months to get their GP to take things seriously only to get a scan too late?

From my experience as direct and honest as possible is the thing that least likely lands you in trouble as a medic, although always try to be sensitive, but there are some things you really can't minimise.

The other thing I know, and even OP says their head was spinning, that if you mention cancer as a possibility, there are some people who will only remember that one word and swear blind that the 30 minutes of lead-in, explanation, possible alternatives etc didn't happen... Acute stress does quantifiably weird things to short term memory.

Totally off topic, but I was given ADs to stop the hot flashes and night sweats when I had to stop HRT because of breast cancer. They have worked brilliantly and have only had a handful in the last 4 years.

No problem. I don't know yet, she just said I would get a letter in the next few weeks.

its good she was honest but it sounds like she could have been a bit more sensitive in her delivery.

i was told my symptoms indicated possible adrenal cancer by my GP. It hadn’t crossed my mind and even though the tests were fast tracked it caused a lot of worry. If they’d have just said we will get some tests arranged asap just to make sure nothing is being missed, maybe you’d have felt less anxious. But I don’t think I’d complain. GPs are so rushed and cant be perfect . If you see her again you could mention it though. I hope all goes well for you and they soon work out what’s going on.

Yes, quite. Still, maybe being a bit shit to me has made them feel slightly better, so I will try and think of it as my charitable deed for the day.

Would you consider a private U/S? I ask because I went private for a skin issue. £200 (not London). Quick and any anxiety was over really soon

YANBU OP. I have health anxiety so maybe my judgment is clouded by that, but even someone not particularly worried about their health is going to worry when the doctor worded it like that! Really insensitive. She basically said oh well I (as a medical professional) would be worried it’s cancer so I’m going to refer you now off you go to worry until you find out. Great GP my arse. A great GP would say I’m going to refer you to get it checked, but don’t worry this is just procedure to rule cancer out there a number of other things it could be. You’re not a child. Ffs.

I think that the least a GP can do is look at the patient rather than their computer screen when suggesting that possibility. You would, surely?

When my husband had his colonoscopy and he and I were called into the clinic doctors office, the guy delivered the news that the growth that they'd discovered could possibly be cancer, with sensitivity. Not patronising, not in a woolly way. Very straightforwardly, but looking at us properly and with a facial expression that put across compassion and empathy. Had he just talked at his screen.... well I can't imagine how that would have felt.

Not the best ‘bedside manner’ as it’s frightened you understandably- she could’ve said something along the lines of “not a DVT but we do need to get it scanned just to rule out anything serious though it could just be inflammation/torn muscle/haematoma etc etc”

It may be that she’s had a long tough day & didn’t mean to be so blunt/thinking out loud etc and GPs do often get criticised for not being entirely upfront about their more serious concerns so I could forgive it. Hope all works out ok OP

I honestly get that, I really do. And it's always better to be clear rather than obfuscate. But you can be clear in a sensitive way. They manage it all the time at the breast clinic I attended. My appointment lasted just over 8 minutes from start to finish, and that included me getting undressed and dressed. There was no build up, no mention of other possibilities, nothing.

I think it was a very clumsy way of saying that the odds of tumor are higher than the virtually nil odds of the other - not that she's actually worried about tumour.

Thank you. I was her last appointment today so she probably just wanted to get home. She probably didn't want to waste time talking about other possibilities etc. I get it, it's just a bit grim to be on the receiving end.

Yes, I think clumsy is a very good word to describe her. She never once made eye contact either, it was all a bit odd.

I think YABU to put in a complaint. GPs have more than enough crap on their plates without a complaint over this type of encounter. You are right to feel a bit upset but a complaint is too far IMO

I'm also really hoping you are ok and it is nothing sinister and it's good the GP has referred you on for tests.

Be grateful she’s acting swiftly. It’s taken me seven months and six visits for my GP to put me on the two week pathway.

I won't be putting in a complaint, I've vented on here instead 😆

I read your original post and it read to me that its not what she said thats shocked/annoyed you, its the way she said it and i can totally empathise with you there because i would reacted the same way as you. Theres a better way of delivering potentially scary and anxiety inducing news to someone but i do think alot of GP's can be a bit like it possibly becauae they are dealing with sort of thing on a daily basis. I really hope everything turns out okay for you and im sure it will be fine.

Yes, I'm trying to take it as a positive. I'm sorry it's taken so long for your GP to take you seriously though.

OP I really do understand that it doesn’t take any effort to be kind and compassionate. The Dr could have been more sensitive. Some comments on this thread really makes me despair.

Very tricky for the GP to find a balance. As PP has said, sometimes by actually not being clear with language "this could be a nasty lump" for example, patients would be shocked if a cancer was then found on investigation, and criticise the GP for not warning them. Conversely the GP would have not wanted to worry the patient too much before a diagnosis made, but in their mind may have told the patient it could be a cancer.

You mentioned DVT which is potentially life threatening, so I guess she inferred you were already thinking along those lines, so she was just correcting your ballpark.

It’s highly unlikely to be cancer.

Yes, it's scary enough without saying something like that! Was just a garden variety cyst though. I think less is more at the initial consult stage, and I'm a person who likes down to earth info, but that's just conjecture!