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?

Complian about what? Doing their job?

Maybe if the they suspect anything serious with patients they should keep quiet?

I'd be much more worried that it might be cancer or a tumor.
She did say cancer or a tumor. I'd take the or to mean something non cancerous like a lipoma. I think she could have told you in a better way, some doctors can be very blunt. You'd probably have gotten more empathic responses if you'd spoken of how she made you feel and not suggested complaining about her.

There's a world between keeping quiet and delivering a blunt possible diagnosis while staring at your screen and not connecting in any way with your patient.
It's not difficult. The vast majority of doctors manage to do it every day.

Lump and night sweats should be investigated @Missingmyusername - please try a different GP

On the other hand if a GO said that it's nothing to worry about but sent you to a scan that showed a definite tumour, might you have been cross about the GP's diagnosis?

As PPs have said, GPS are damned either way.

Better to know the worst possibility to start with. A friend kept being reassured his tumour wasn't cancerous and was dead in six months. Your doctor wasn't brutal or callous, just blunt.

I told my go about a pesky mole and she asks to look at it to check for cancer

Gp not go

You are in shock, let’s hope she is wrong, I wouldn’t make a complaint, as people say, prepare for the worst but hope for the best, it may be nothing serious

Did you want her to pussy foot around and pretend that it’s probably a busitis or something and then find out it’s cancer further down the line? You really don’t have grounds to complain, she might not have the best bedside manner but she’s assessed you and referred you for further investigation, can’t really complain about that.

Are you on the NHs app? You can see your health records and what the Dr has written from this appointment.

I also think some posters are being hard on you.

Just get it checked. My dear friend had a sarcoma on their thigh.

Maybe she does. Personal;ly I'd prefer it, so GP's can't win. But on the other hand, she wasn't the one who did nothing about a lump except guess for 2+months! I mean, come on - you know there is a history of DVT in your family, you surely know that that can be a killer itself, and you ignored it, and now you want to complain that she shouldn't have told you it might be something else that's also serious?

You have an excellent GP who is aware of Sarcomas and is enuring you know how important it you attend your ultrasound. Hopefully it is nothing and you are okay.

We were not so lucky and have a teenager with metastised Sarcoma.

I would be upset too. The doctor could have chosen so many other things to say in that moment.
I hope everything is okay op.

GP here; to my mind she was unnecessarily blunt, as well as - from the OP's description of the lump on her leg - placing an inappropriate emphasis on what would seem to be a very unlikely diagnosis. I think as doctors we sometimes get a bit blasé about the word 'cancer' as we use it all the time, but to a patient it can be a very frightening term and shouldn't be tossed into a consultation casually without good reason. There are better ways to convey the same information.
If a student I was tutoring had used this phrasing to a patient I'd be having a quiet word with them after the consultation.

So you’re unhappy that the Gp disagreed with your self diagnosis of DVT and took it seriously and told you what they were looking for on the scan and referred you for a scan? They tell you what they are worried about so you understand and go do th scan and don’t dismiss it and not attend and it’s not a shock when the diagnosis comes through.

It doesn't sound like she phrased it well. I wonder if she has assumed that because you have a history of cancer, you would be two-steps ahead and thinking the lump would be cancerous?

I think she was right to tell you a DVT is unlikely and right to refer you.
I hope it turns out fine for you.

@missingmyusername, just to echo what @Tiptoetess said, please get it checked out. I had a breast lump which was thankfully benign but I was asked about night sweats as part of the history taking. It can be due to the menopause or it can be due to cancer.

OP after going through breast cancer already I do hope you get the all clear for your leg issue. Some GPs can be very offhand alright and I've come out of appointments reeling a bit myself.

@Decoart - I'm so sorry to read about your DC - that's just dreadful

I used to work in NHS complaints - you're saying she shouldn't have mentioned it could be cancer until they knew more, I got loads of complaints saying their doctor didn't make them aware of the possible severity of their symptoms until it was too late. Sometimes you can't win! Generally doctors are supposed to be as honest and upfront as possible. Also people missing appointments costs the NHS millions. Not saying you would have not bothered turning up to the ultrasound but thousands of people don't. She probably wanted to impress the potential seriousness so you would definitely go, both for your own sake and to avoid wasted time and money.

Saying that I agree many doctors have absolutely terrible bedside manners - but on the whole I'd prefer them to have the right knowledge if it has to be one or the other. There are lots of other people, both medical and your own support system who can be nice to you, but your mum or your HCP can't diagnose or treat you. Obviously in an ideal world they'd be good at both but with the current lack of GPs you have to take what you can get!

Just wanted to say hope it all goes OK OP and that the waiting period isn't too difficult. Hopefully your mind will be put at rest in a couple of weeks.

I think you are lucky. My son's gp gave him a non urgent referral for a lump on his ankle, because it wasn't painful. Waited nearly 3 months for an ultrasound, then a day for an xray, mri and biopsy.
Turned out to be cancer.
He was 17 at diagnosis and died 2 weeks before his 21st birthday.
He had chemo, a below knee amputation, more chemo, got remission for 2 years.
Then it came back so above knee amputation, more chemo and then remission.
It came back in the bone and lung, so more chemo and radiotherapy .
Remission again, then it came back on his back and in his lungs.
Ran out of treatment options at this point.
Now the rules for referrals with non painful lumps has changed, especially for younger people, and this is something that could have saved my son's life.
Being scared is better than being dead, although the chances are it will turn out to be nothing serious

I am so sorry to hear that. 💐

YABU. You also need to put your big girl pants on and get your head around the possibilities.