Possible breast cancer... NHS or Private

[ReverseFerret]

Just that really. Found a hard small lump and obviously need to get it checked out. I have private medical insurance, would I be stupid not to use it? Any opinions welcome.

I used my private medical insurance when I found a lump, which was in fact cancer. I mean, this is why you have insurance, really, I think. For serious health issues like cancer.

I agree with @BatshitCrazyWoman - if you have it bloody use it, especially for something like this

It’s worth seeing when a private breast specialist can see you, and how much quicker any imaging and biopsies would be - sometimes the 2 week wait NHS is quicker. Could always then switch over to private after if the worst were found.

I looked into this once and nowhere privately nearby had space for 10 days, NHS was quicker.

The NHS can be quicker. I was going to go private for a colonoscopy but the NHS contacted me within a couple of days and it was done within 2 weeks.

However, when I had to breast slump the GP forgot to refer me and so I went privately. So just make sure that if you don't hear from then in a few days to chase it up in case they forgot. I don't blame the GP as she was lovely and it was probably just an oversight.

Use it. When I found a lump last year I asked the GP to make the private referral, and she said "trust me, this is where the NHS gets it right, you don't need to go private".

I had waited a week to see the GP, then had the full standard two week wait for an appt (at a hospital nearly an hour's drive away as all the others were overbooked), but then the wait for biopsy results took far longer than it was supposed to, appointments were cancelled at short notice due to a lack of staff, in the end I had to beg them to tell me over the phone. The anxiety over that 6 week period was unbearable.

Fortunately all was fine, it was benign. But if I'd gone private my local clinic would have seen me in under a week and likely had the biopsy results within a week or so too, far reducing the wait and the stress.

I received excellent care, the staff were wonderful at every stage, I don't think private would have been 'better', but tracking down the relevant dept to chase stuff when things were cancelled was hard. I also felt like if I'd gone private I would have freed up a spot in the queue for someone else.

Either way, hope you get seen soon.

I recently had an issue with my breast. My GP referred me and by 9am the next morning, I had an appointment with the breast clinic within the week. At the appointment, I was examined, had a mammogram and an ultrasound and received results there and then. Thankfully it was nothing to worry about, but in less than 1 week, the NHS had me sorted.

Good luck

Use it, that’s exactly what insurance is for.
A new hard lump shouldn’t be ignored.
Private care means faster checks and less anxiety.
That’s being responsible, not overreacting.

use it. When I found mine I was in the private hospital two days later had a mammogram there and then with results ten minutes later during a consultation with the consultant.
well worth the £200 excess

The nhs stuffed up my dhs cancer now he’s dead so I’d use that insurance.