Breast lump and crazy wait for scan - go private?

[pjani]

I found a lump in my breast last Wednesday, GP Thursday who referred me that day to the local hospital in London. I just got my appointment through after a lot of chasing and it’s in nearly a month’s time. I’m supposed to be seen within 2 weeks of the original referral.

I’ve googled private breast scan but I’m not 100% sure which procedure I need, no-one seems to list the actual price and I have no idea which of these private providers are good/trustworthy/reasonably priced.

I don’t have health insurance so would pay myself. Any recommendations for reputable, London-based, reasonably priced (whatever that is) private breast scans?

The thing is you can get / pay for a scan but if it was bad news you might have to go back to the start in the NHS system for treatment.

I wouldn’t decline the NHS appointment in case it was needed. I’d get on the phone every day to try for a cancellation slot if something was found privately.

1 month, even if it turns out to be breast cancer, is very unlikely to affect the outcome. 💐

That’s awful that you need to wait that long and that it is so different dependent on where you live. My Gran was referred last Friday and her appointment was the Wednesday afterwards. Once you attend though they do all the tests in one go, mammogram, followed by physical exam, she then had an ultrasound and biopsy and spoke to the consultant all within the hour we were there. She was referred for a CT and had that on the Friday of the same week.

I would imagine all those tests privately would cost so much money (obviously worth it if you afford it). Good luck I really hope they get you in sooner.

Oh really? I thought time really mattered for cancer diagnosis which is why there is the 2 week target to be seen?

They will do the appropriate imaging and any necessary biopsies all in one go. I got my biopsy result within 4 working days of my appointment. I know it's a head fuck now but waiting an extra week or two is very unlikely to make a difference to the outcome.

try to find a one stop breast clinic, I have attended one several times at the spire hospital in Manchester. If you have a spire near you look into their one stop breast clinic. I paid £220 for a consultation then around £360 for an ultrasound of one breast. Every time I’ve been since I’ve just paid £150- this is due to many changes since breastfeeding. Good luck and I hope everything is okay xxx

I wouldn't read this academic article from 2001 as I think it will stress you out, but I wanted to include a reference to when the two week wait was first set up. It is primarily an administrative target, to make sure that patients with suspected cancer (and I don't mean your GP suspects this any more than 'it's a lump, I should refer on the 2WW pathway') were seen as quickly as possible. It was introduced at a time of record waiting lists (like now). The article states that delays of 3-6 months in breast cancer patients are associated with poorer outcomes.

In summary, I can completely understand why you don't want to wait a month, I definitely wouldn't either. But I think that on average it probably won't affect your prognosis. I wonder if you want to give Breast Cancer Now a call to get their advice?

I would go private if I had the funds. Your GP will be able to advise where to go.

Agree that you don't need a scan, you need a one stop breast clinic.

Hi OP. I was in the same position very recently and the wait was too torturous, I was so so stressed, so I considered paying to go privately. My friend recommended that our local NHS hospital has a private wing, the NHS consultant has one afternoon clinic a week there privately. I rang to make an appt and they were so, so lovely, they quoted me about £700/£800 for consultation, mammogram (if over 40, I think) and ultrasound if all required, would be more with biopsies if needed, they said I should get seen by the NHS within 2 weeks, but NHS appt was booked for 3.5 weeks. Apparently the Bank Holidays and strikes have caused a backlog. I kept calling the NHS booking team to ask about cancellations as they suggested I did and I got a cancellation within 2 weeks, I told them I would/could come at short notice, I got a call at 10.30 and was seen at 14.00 by the private consultant via NHS. He was delightful. If I had my got the cancellation I would definitely have gone privately. I also looked at local BUPA and Circle Health options. Best of luck Xxx

The thing is, the scan is not the important or difficult part, the skill is in reading the scan. So you need to make sure that person analysing the results is experienced and competent, and that is not always the case with ‘private’ hospitals.

I hope you have a good outcome, and as little anxiety as possible.

Spire Hospitals tend to have a good breast clinic. I can recommend Cambridge as well as Harpenden. The guy I saw there (Spire Harpenden) is called Dr. Crane; he was very good and thorough. But just 4 weeks on the NHS will save you a lot of money and there might be a cancellation anyway. Good luck OP!

Rubbish. If the private hospital does a one stop breast clinic the scans are read by a consultant radiologist on the spot.

I tried to book a Nuffield appointment yesterday - about £150 but the soonest they had was mid June and that was across multiple sites and cities. Used to be same day

phoned nhs and got one for next week
routine not urgent

Which London hospital?

I have had breast cancer. I think I’d rather be at a One Stop clinic at Barts or Whittington etc than pay for private. It’s the joined up care that seemed important.

Really? Why not? Do they not employ the same calibre of people as the NHS?

I've been referred twice to the breast clinic and both times my appointment was within 2 weeks last time they called me the day after I saw the doctor as they had a cancellation and wanted to see if I could come in early. I would try ringing the hospital directly and seeing if there's any cancellations. Hope everything turns out ok for you x

Hi @pjani. I found a lump and didn't want to wait 2 weeks from seeing my GP to getting results. I went to a private hospital and was seen and got results immediately. I was immediately put into the system. The private Dr I saw also worked for the NHS in a local hospital, he was my surgeon and saw me through the whole process. Good luck and without doubt I'd do the same again if necessary. I think it cost me about £250, but that was 8 years ago.

Thanks all.

It’s the Whittington. I had emailed PALS for UCLH and they had earlier slots so I called my GP yesterday to move the referral but today found out that the referral wasn’t made so they said they will do it today. The two week wait starts again on being referred again so I guess I will just have to hound UCLH and hope for a cancellation slot.

Thanks for the advice about the one stop clinics, they are more money than I was hoping and I was reassured by those saying it wasn’t likely to make a big difference.

Thanks for the update, I’m so glad to hear. Fingers crossed it’s a similar story for me.

I asked for a referral to the other hospital both Thursday and Friday and both times they said I’d get a text to say when it had been done and both times I haven’t got a text. I think I will have to stick with the original appointment.

I feel pretty disappointed to be honest. And I’m impatient at the best of times.

Whittington looks grubby and 1970s but I rate the team.