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“Getting a cancer diagnosis is extremely stressful, and that brings a whole load of emotions, and lack of sleep certainly does not help. I think many of us have periods of insomnia. I experienced a long period of not sleeping. I could go off to sleep quite quickly, but after an hour I would find myself wide awake again, and would spend the rest of the night getting frustrated because I couldn't sleep."
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Time to shake this first part of recovery off. Brush myself down and give my mind a new project to think about and do something which will be nice once completed. I promise there will be now changing room disasters here Gill haha x
Stac. Sorry to hear all the stress around your daughter. It dont seem to be right and the the delay is not right either. I really hope it can be sorted next week and you get somewhere. I cant add anymore advice as this wonderful group of peers have already got things covered. Keep reaching out to us not matter of time of day or night. There is always normally someone around to support you and your daughter.
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Hi Stac
Things are a bit different in Scotland, which doesn’t have quite the same Faster Diagnosis Standard we do in England.
This link from Cancer Research gives some more information
This is an outrageous wait time you’re having for an urgent referral with concerning symptoms for cancer.
Can you afford to see a gynaecologist privately? If so, I’d personally do this. It is possible to transfer back to SNHS even if you are seen privately first. The main thing is getting seen by a specialist.
Sarah xx
I dont know what else to do.
Hi. I have read your posts and replies with utter disbelief.
A&E and refuse to budge till you get your daughter looked at and diagnosed.
You shouldn’t have to do this but find a private clinic to do a cervical smear
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
Hi Dani
I’d need to disagree about going to a&e and refusing to budge without a diagnosis I’m afraid. It’s not the place to get a diagnosis, as that would need to be done with a biopsy which would not happen at a&e.
They would be more likely to provide pain relief and perhaps medication for the bleeding. It may be, however, that it would expedite a referral to gynaecology.
I’ve been to a&e myself on various different occasions-once directed there direct from my gp’s surgery as needing urgent attention-I sat for 5 hours and the consultant refused to see me at all, after shouting at me that I had no right to be there as my condition was not life threatening.
A cervical smear is also not a diagnostic test for cervical cancer as cells are only tested from a smear if there is an active hpv infection identified. Also, not all cervical cancers, of which there are several different types, are caused by hpv hence why a biopsy is needed.
An appointment with a gynaecologist is what’s needed in my opinion, done privately if needs be in view of the SNHS wait times.
Sarah xx
Hi Gill
I’ve lifted this directly from the waiting times on the cancer research link
“In England, Scotland and Northern Ireland the current targets are:
no more than 2 months (62 days) wait between the date the hospital receives an urgent suspected cancer referral and the start of treatment
no more than 31 days wait between the meeting at which you and your doctor agree the treatment plan and the start of treatment”
In terms of the Faster Diagnosis Standard, this does not apply in Scotland.
Sarah xx
