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Cancer or not

(24 Posts)
User7777 Thu 29-Jul-21 07:50:01

Does anyone know how long the wait for scanning is. I found a lump the size of a Brazil nut in breast tissue. Also, feel faint and dizzy.
I previously had cancer some years ago. Tried to get appointment but Sept is the earliest.

Lucca Thu 29-Jul-21 07:51:34

Have you seen your GP ?

GagaJo Thu 29-Jul-21 07:53:24

Have you gone through the steps?

GP?
Referral?

It usually takes 2 weeks from GP to scanning although it recently took my daughter 3 months to convince them she needed to be seen. Delayed by covid I think.

Most lumps AREN'T cancer. My daughters wasn't even though she has a big family history of breast cancer and the BRCA1 gene.

CafeAuLait Thu 29-Jul-21 08:23:53

I can't answer your question about the wait but try to keep in mind that, while not knowing is stressful, most lumps are benign. I'm sure it's even more stressful when you've had BC before. I hope you can get an appointment very soon.

Bluefox Thu 29-Jul-21 08:28:18

Go to A&E. some GP’s are an absolute nightmare to get an appointment with at the moment and I was told by mine that they are not an emergency service; true I know but harsh all the same. You may have to wait around all day but you will get seen.
Most lumps aren’t cancer but given your history this is an emergency so use the accident and emergency service.
Good luck and let us know how you get on. X

TwoWolves Thu 29-Jul-21 08:29:01

I doubt the faintness and dizziness are related to the lump, but anything more than two weeks to be seen is a disgrace.

I suggest getting your GP to try to hurry the appointment along. Or ring the screening centre up yourself, say how distressed you are and ask them to bring it forward or at the very least ask to be informed of any cancellations.

muse Thu 29-Jul-21 08:47:12

Please try your doctor. Don't ring. First look at their website to see if eConsult is used. We have used this quite a lot. It's brilliant.

On Monday I used it as I was sure I had the start of a skin cancer. At my eye test a week ago, the optician said to watch for it growing. Anyway I did the eConsult on Monday morning. Doctor rang me that day (they have to do it within 48 hours). He saw me on Tuesday and did an immediate referral to the hospital (skin cancer clinic). They rang yesterday and I am off to the hospital this afternoon for an assessment followed by removal of the skin cancer. Because, it's on my eye lid, I might have to wait and see an ophthalmic surgeon.

This isn't the first time we've had excellent care from our surgery. It is the only one in the town serving 1000s of people. All the staff are brilliant.

Bluefox Sorry you have got such a terrible surgery. Ones, like that let the NHS down.

Elegran Thu 29-Jul-21 08:51:09

User7777

Does anyone know how long the wait for scanning is. I found a lump the size of a Brazil nut in breast tissue. Also, feel faint and dizzy.
I previously had cancer some years ago. Tried to get appointment but Sept is the earliest.

Where are you trying to get the appointment? Suspicious lumps are generally considered a priority, so you should be able to see your GP within two weeks, or possibly the hospital team who fixed your previous tumour will see you. How long ago was that one?

Keep on at your GP until you get at least a phone appointment to discuss your lump.

Are you in the UK or another country?

The lump in your breast and the faintness and dizziness are probably not conected. Two separate problems.

Visgir1 Thu 29-Jul-21 09:40:01

On line ref, they will contact you ASAP.
Please don't leave it, if you don't have a PC get a friend to help.
Good luck.

Redhead56 Thu 29-Jul-21 09:47:34

The faintness and dizziness maybe anxiety because you found the lump. I hope you get a referral soon and wish you well.

Sago Thu 29-Jul-21 12:40:02

Here are the guidelines. www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiEiZflmIjyAhXTT8AKHTydAK4QFjACegQIBBAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcks.nice.org.uk%2Ftopics%2Fbreast-cancer-recognition-referral%2F&usg=AOvVaw3Qp5KwIFZkZmv6vQY4Wqpk

I hope this helps

mumofmadboys Thu 29-Jul-21 12:46:34

Blue fox A and E is not the right place for a breast lump at all.
It is inappropriate use of our Casualty departments which are delaying urgent emergency treatment.
User7777 if you are in the UK you need to see your GP. If breast cancer is at all suspected you will be seen in the breast clinic within 14 days. I wish you well. Try not to worry. Breast cancer is very common and our treatment of it is getting better and better all the time.

InnocentBystander Thu 29-Jul-21 16:15:30

TwoWolves

I doubt the faintness and dizziness are related to the lump, but anything more than two weeks to be seen is a disgrace.

I suggest getting your GP to try to hurry the appointment along. Or ring the screening centre up yourself, say how distressed you are and ask them to bring it forward or at the very least ask to be informed of any cancellations.

In normal times any symptoms that could be indicative of cancer must be referred within two weeks - by law. These are not normal times however.

timetogo2016 Thu 29-Jul-21 16:19:55

Feeling faint and dizzy is more than likely stress.
I hope you get an appointment soon.
Wishing you well user7777.

flaxwoven Thu 29-Jul-21 16:49:45

All suspected cancer should be referred under the "two week rule" by your GP and there is a special form for this. The GP's receptionist may not give you an appointment at once, but may say the doctor will ring back later. Don't give up, be persistent. Having worked in a hospital I'm afraid those who shout loudest.......

cornishpatsy Thu 29-Jul-21 17:17:39

I would phone 111 and tell them the length of waiting time to see if they can do anything quicker.

I think A&E would just refer you as the GP has done which would not give you a faster appointment.

Wishing you well.

TrendyNannie6 Thu 29-Jul-21 18:10:43

Wishing you the very best op and hope you get sorted very soon ?

tiredoldwoman Thu 29-Jul-21 18:43:03

My daughter ,after 4 months of many pleas from her GP to the hospital for a mammogram, had to go private . Luckily she was ok but it was a terrible time for all .

GagaJo Thu 29-Jul-21 21:19:50

mumofmadboys

Blue fox A and E is not the right place for a breast lump at all.
It is inappropriate use of our Casualty departments which are delaying urgent emergency treatment.
User7777 if you are in the UK you need to see your GP. If breast cancer is at all suspected you will be seen in the breast clinic within 14 days. I wish you well. Try not to worry. Breast cancer is very common and our treatment of it is getting better and better all the time.

Sadly, the 2 week rule isn't working at the moment. My daughter has the BRCA1 gene, with a family history of early BC. She had a lump at the beginning of the year and from contacting the GP it took 3 months for her to be seen in the breast clinic/scanned. And even then it was only brought forward because I called the clinic as a previous cancer patient and explained the situation. The member of staff I spoke to told me the waiting time was up to 12 weeks.

MaggieTulliver Thu 29-Jul-21 23:34:57

I’m a GP medical secretary. Don’t go to A&E and don’t call 111, they’ll only refer you to your GP. Call your GP first thing, tell the receptionist you have a breast lump and you should be triaged to talk to a doctor that day. They should then book you in for an urgent F2F appointment hopefully by the next day to examine you and will in all likelihood refer you on the 2WW pathway to the breast clinic. This means you’ll be seen within 2 weeks. We deal with referrals to the breast clinic on a regular basis and patients are always seen very quickly. Luckily 9 out of 10 don’t have cancer so all the best OP.

nadateturbe Fri 30-Jul-21 00:00:37

MaggieTulliver describes how I was treated exactly.

crazyH Fri 30-Jul-21 00:03:24

Good luck OP. I had bleeding from the right nipple; saw the GP who referred me to the specialist, was scanned within 10 days, lump removed the following week, results the next week. Fortunately, it was benign, no follow-up. Hope all goes well for you too 7777 flowers

Oopsadaisy1 Fri 30-Jul-21 09:04:31

maggieTulliver exactly how I was treated too, on the 2weekwait pathway, I was seen by GP and then the Breast Clinic within 10 days, had all the tests in one morning and thankfully all was ok.
Get back to your GP today User7777 and good luck.

nadateturbe Fri 30-Jul-21 12:29:49

User7777 yes, get back to your GP and insist on being seen quicker. If you can afford, maybe ask for private referral