Can doctors mention possibility of cancer before testing?

[toohardtothinkofaname]

thats it really.

Someone I know has experienced on/off stomach pains & following an appointment with the doctor was too it 'could be cancer or an ulcer' and gave them an appointment for a camera down the throat on September 3rd. That doesn't sound right to me they'd diagnose a possibility so flippantly & then not follow it up right away.

Thoughts please?

Yes, they can give potential diagnoses. It's quite possible that it's been phrased as 'without taking a look I couldn't tell if it's cancer or an ulcer or nothing at all...' rather than 'this could be cancer'.

Got it, thanks lougle

Yes they can. When my ds had a suspicious lump in his neck the gp said it could be lymphoma (or lots of other things). He had to put suspected cancer on the referral
To get a consultant appt urgently.

Just to add it wasn't lymphoma. It was something very harmless.

My mum recently had the camera down the throat due to stomach problems and was told it could be a multitude if things but the gp didn't elaborate.

Is there meant to be a two week wait for potential cancer and the 3rd would breach it?

Local anaesthetic I believe

Local anaesthetic +/- sedation.

It isn't a camera as such Camel - it's a narrow tube called an endoscope and has a tiny camera attached to the end, it's passed through your mouth and throat and into your stomach. Patients have the option of sedation (so they don't feel anything) or a local anaesthetic spray in the throat, which tastes horrid. I opted for the latter and it was uncomfortable and made my eyes water but the nurse was re-assuring and holding my hand. If I had the procedure again (called an endoscopy) I would opt for sedation.