Delayed treatment for cancer - advice please

Not sure but when my dh was going to have radiotherapy he was first put on Hormone tablets. He changed his mind about the surgery and was immediately taken off the hormones.,
Is your friend on these?

TBH I would have started phoning the Hospital in February and every week thereafter, to make sure I wasn’t forgotten, especially as she has symptoms.

I hope your friend gets treated asap.

Please ask your friend to ring the Hospital, and tell them she is willing to go in at short notice. I did this, when they found a lump in my breast. On external examination, the Consultant assured me it was benign, but because it was bleeding, I wasn’t too sure. My sister had breast cancer. I had the op (biopsy) within a few weeks. I think there is a protocol, for suspicious symptoms. Fortunately, mine was benign

I would phone the consultant.

This happened to me, 12 years ago when I had cancer. 2 month wait for operation (no one said, but it was the start of the summer holidays, and I'm sure it was because so many were away on hols.

After the op. my chemo was supposed to start within a month. 6 weeks later, nothing. I phoned the chemo ward to be told I had to wait another month. I was quite upset about it, and someone at work recommended I call the consultant's secretary. I did and she told me to leave it with her. An hour later, she called me back and chemo was arranged to start the next day. Same with radiotherapy. Delayed. Consultant sorted it out after I let him know.

It's shocking that you should have to at a time like that, but you have to self advocate or you risk slipping through the cracks

GagaJo I agree with you. I’ve had to advocate for various members of my immediate family and you have to chase, otherwise you disappear into an overburdened system.

I would advise if your friend lacks energy to make these calls, to call them yourself, have the friend confirm their identity then you take over and advocate and push for them.
It is the most helpful and potentially life saving thing you could do for your friend.

Thank you all so much for your thoughts and advice. I’ll pass everything on to my friend and urge her to contact the consultant’s secretary prontissimo. It is so worrying for her.