Found a lump and I can't get to my gp

[butterfly359]

Ive just arrived in Turkey for 3 weeks and have found a large lump on my breast, I've got cysts already but this feels different it's hard and doesn't move and it wasn't there a week ago. I'm in full panic mood at the moment and don't know what to do as I don't thing my holiday insurance covers this
Do I try and fly home? Do I try and go and see a dr here or do I wait till I can get home to see my GP. I'm so scared at the moment and feel all alone my other half is not being much help and burring his head in a bottle of brandy. I'm trying to put a happy face on for the kids but I can't keep that smile on my face. Thank you for reading x

Ah fuck. How much would a flight back be? Would dh be ok with dc on his own?

Just been looking at flights they want £635 I can't afford that the kids would be fine with the other half x

Oh that is an awful situation to be in. Sending virtual hugs.
You are not going to enjoy your holiday anyway with worry.
I would actually fly home - even if you leave hubby and kids behind.
9 out of 10 breast lumps aren’t malignant. (GP here)

Thank you for the hug we can't afford for me to fly back as we spent all our spare Money on the holiday I'm going to keep checking the flights to see i can get home sooner x

Can you ring your GP on Monday, explain the situation and request a referral to the breast clinic without being examined? If they make it now, then it'll be waiting for you when you get home.

I had to wait the full two weeks for my appointment, so you wouldn't be getting seen much later than you would if you weren't on holiday.

I know it is easier said than done, but please try not to worry. As a previous poster said, most referrals end up being nothing sinister.

could you ring your GP, explain, and they get put on the referral pathway? From my experience, they put you on the 2-week pathway regardless of your symptoms, if they are anything that could be potentially cancerous (i.e., you don't get referred any more urgently than that just because the GP says so, or indeed any less, even if the GP thinks it's unlikely to be anything). Of course, many times the 2-week pathway is actually more like 3 or 4 weeks, at least in my area.

So if you could explain there is a lump, there might not be a whole lot the GP could do besides refer you, and maybe they can do that anyway over the phone. You'd need someone to check the post at home to see when the appointment come through, and whether it's before you were due back or not.

good luck

It'll still be hard to enjoy your holiday, though ,but maybe you could stick it out until there was a cheaper flight?

I would say you need to put this to the back of your mind as much as you can. You're back home in 3 weeks, make sure you have a GP appointment set up for as soon as you return. If this is anything insidious, 3 weeks isn't not going to make any difference. Don't spoil your family's holiday unnecessarily, please. Let us know how yo get on in three weeks. X

Just another thought... do you have travel insurance? Could you check if that would help you?

Another vote to call your travel insurance ASAP! I would also call local
Clinics to ask how much a private appointment would be. I recently had a scare in the UK and was reviewed via ultrasound with a decision that day. There may be similar services where you are staying.

You poor thing. I don't know what you should do for the best but you'll be beside yourself with worry, I know.

I've had three breast lumps but they were all benign, most are but the worry and the waiting is awful.

As others have said it might be worth giving the GP a ring and seeing if you can get referred. Bless you, what a sod when I'm sure all you wanted was a nice holiday.

I agree that you should call your GP and explain, but that if you’re going to return to have a Gp appointment you’ll then wait days or weeks for anything to happen following that- seems a real shame? Not much will happen in 3 weeks even if you’re back

My GP surgery is good at giving emergency appointments on the day (it's easier than making an appointment) so I will be able to be seen as soon as I get back, I'm going to call them on Monday and see if they can refer me without seeing me.
I will give my insurance a call in the morning and see what they say
Thank you for all your replies. I really appreciate them x

I know Turkey quite well. I know someone who had a minor heart attack whilst working there. As he didn't trust their health care system he booked himself on the next flight home and went to A & E when he got back.

The NHS is excellent at stuff like breast lumps. Three weeks isn't actually long if it was cancerous and those three weeks would probably not make that much difference to any outcome.

You could easily get a mammogram and ultrasound in a private clinic for less than the return ticket.
Private health care in turkey is very good and you will easily find a good English speaking doctor.
I don't know where you are but Acibadem and Koc are the way to go.

Do not try to use the state system. It is (as correctly mentioned by the other poster) difficult to say the least.

Your GP would not be able to refer you without seeing you - in fact they would not be able to give you a telephone consultation while you're in another country.
Contact your travel insurance company and see a private GP in Turkey to advise you l.

Thank you all for your advice I'm going to try and find a Dr in Turkey today, as the not knowing is making me worry & I can't spend the holiday crying all the time, I have tried looking at my holiday insurance but can't find if I claim on it for this. X

If you phone your insurance they will tell you if it's covered.

Most likely they will curtail you (bring you home early) or arrange and pay for an appointment with a decent GP in Turkey so you should definitely call them.

Who is your insurance with? This is my area of work so PM me if you like.

My insurances is with Natwest should I speak to them before I go to see a dr? X x

I think a phone appointment with your GP is a great idea.

When I had one I had to get referred to hospital where doc felt it again then referred for scan (I had recently had a baby and if did move so maybe less urgent).

You could hopefully come home to first referrel appointment letter. Or GP could suggest what would be useful in Turkey.

I'm a GP, we can't take phone appointments from patients who are abroad as we aren't insured to deal with anyone outside the UK.either private dr in Turkey or go when you get home. Good luck

Yes absolutely phone the insurance and see what they say. They will tell you what's covered/not covered, and arrange everything for you if you have coverage.

Much much easier!

If they say they can't cover an appointment/flight, then ask them for local facilities as they may be able to recommend a decent provider.

Good luck

Good luck OP, I hope you get an answer on Turkey

I would go for a private mammogram locally. They can email it and a diagnosis to your doctor. And it shouldn’t cost that much.

Try hard not to worry. I think you should speak to your GP. If you are premenopausal in this area you would be seen by gp and asked to come back after your next period anyway at which point if the lump persists you will be referred along 2 week pathway and seen in the timeframe. If you are postmenopausal you would be 2 week wait from the off.in most cases 3 weeks is not going to make a difference. I know it is hard and scary but your Zdr knows about your general health and other factors involved and can advise you appropriately.