I'm with the HCA group as that was where the surgeon Vitality recommended for my colonoscopy and I've been sticking with them since through surgery and now chemotherapy. I've been very pleased with them so far, both my surgeon and oncologist plus nurses in both locations have been amazing (colonoscopy, surgery, MRI & CT at London Bridge Hospital and chemotherapy at Guy's Cancer Centre Private part - also London Bridge Hospital extension). They're part of Leaders of Oncology Care (LOC).
Know my surgeon also works at Royal London as they all do one day at the private hospital and the rest with the NHS.
So can't say if it's better private or NHS because I know these amazing people work for both, but if you decide to do a second opinion privately it's a recommendation.
Hi Missem thank you so much for replying. I will take a look at them. Honestly I am confused a lot of people say I should get a second opinion and a lot of people say I shouldn’t. For me I am scared what the results might show. Even though I have been diagnosed with stage 4 rectum cancer. It’s a scary process and at 27 years old this isn’t something I thought I would go through. My other worry that makes me want to get a second opinion is because on my CT scan showed few small mets on both side of my lungs but they haven’t done a biopsy to confirm if it is cancer cells.
I know the feeling. I actually got a second opinion too which I didn't mention first time around (head is a bit everywhere nowadays).
My boyfriend works for a company who does second medical opinions among other things (I used them to speak to a GP of theirs regarding my symptoms which is why I got to see a specialist and got diagnosed so quickly because if I'd gone to my normal GP I'd still not be diagnosed I think since they are just useless with everything (I've had issues with them in the past) anyway blabbering on now and getting of topic.
After my colonoscopy my surgeon said straight away that she's seen what looked like a malignant tumour but had sent tests to lab and needed CT and MRI. The Friday the following week me and my partner went to see her in her office (only time he's been allowed to come with because of covid) and I got my diagnosis. My boyfriend straight away was shooting away with the questions (he's been working in healthcare for so long he knows what to ask and I just sit there going wow great questions didn't think of that). But he also asked for all she can give us for a second medical opinion and she happily did. She actually welcomed it because she thinks they're great, because sometimes doctors see something that might have been missed or have other research at hand. Sometimes they agree completely with everything. Sometimes they agree with diagnosis but have other suggestions for treatment.
Anyway (sorry for making this so long) we got all the results from my colonoscopy including pictures, MRI, CT, bloods and so on and he sent it off to their team in Brighton who then sent it off to the doctors who are best to look at bowel cancer. A couple of days later I got the report from the States where two different doctors in Boston had looked at all my stuff and my history including family history and they gave their ideas.
They agreed with the diagnosis and possible treatments my surgeon had already given (she was waiting to have the multidisciplinary meeting where they decide it I should have chemo and then surgery or opposite). The doctors in Boston agreed and backed it up with studies saying neither is better than the other and it all depends on what the doctors in the hospital agree upon. They had some tips and so on but nothing major. I sent it off to my surgeon who also shared it in the multidisciplinary with the oncologist and others. She loved it, and said its great to see what other doctors think and not necessarily that they agree because it's good to get another point of view from the outside. For me it just gave me reassurance that I was doing the right thing and was in good hands with my surgeon. Ended up having surgery first, temporary stoma now and chemo for 6 months as the cancer had spread to one lymphnode out of 33.
I know my experience with a second medical opinion is a bit different than seeking another from a different hospital but from my experience I do recommend it. My boyfriend always does (I know its his job but he's got some great stories about it where it has saved lives in some points and some where its just given great recommendations. Also their service is free, it's and add-on on some health insurances etc) I almost didn't want to ask because didn't want to be a nuisance but so glad I did in the end.
I know it's scary and I completely get it. Mine is "only" stage 3 but at 31 I really didn't expect to have that diagnosis or go through this. Do let me know if there is anything I can do to help :)
Again sorry for babbling on so much but hope it helps.
I am happy you wrote a long answer. It really has given me the strength to get a second opinion. I am happy you have a boyfriend who worked for health care and got you to see the right people. My Gp was useless and took a long time for them to diagnosis me because of my age. I wish you the best with your treatment.
Ok good, I would check the cost of the private hospital as well or if you have insurance that is great. Some things don't cost too much but obviously some are ridiculously expensive (I just see what the hospital bills Vitality and am very happy to be insured). I have seen some who actually don't have insurance but chose to pay themselves so it does happen.
Thank you so much and same to you. They really are useless, my surgeon still goes on about how amazing the web GP who referred me was for referring me instead of just brushing me off which kinda told me it's very rare to be referred so quickly in our age.
With my second opinion I think it took around 1,5 weeks, I spoke to a doctor at the company who reviewed all my stuff and wrote down some of the answers for the doctors doing the second opinion to review along with all the medical stuff and after that she wrote the report and sent it off. I would say mine was slightly fast tracked as well (perks of being the girlfriend of one of the top guys I guess). I'm not sure how long the process takes in getting a second opinion at a hospital but my experience with them with just being seen and diagnosed is that they try to be as quick as they can but being thorough.
For example I spoke to my surgeons secretary on the phone just a couple of days before Christmas and we scheduled my consultation with her for her first day back after the holidays (7th Jan), lockdown did happen so we did a phone consultation instead. She just said that instead of me coming in and just doing bloods and an examination she just wanted to do a colonoscopy straight away. This to just see exactly what was going on as soon as possible and if it was just polyps she could remove them straight away. My colonoscopy happened on the 15th of Jan, a Friday, on the Tuesday I was in for the MRI and CT and the Friday I was in her office getting my diagnosis. The multidisciplinary was the thing that took the longest to happen, down to Covid and the doctors being at their NHS positions more and also having NHS patients coming to the private hospital to relieve the NHS but making sure they'd get the surgeries they needed. So when they had the meeting in mid-Feb everything has been really quick from that. My surgeon was annoyed I had to wait a month for my surgery but I thought it was fine, they had mainly NHS patients for ops instead of private for a few months which made the waiting times a bit longer. I do know they are back to just doing private since April so hopefully they are back to being a bit quicker again. (Even though I thought they were quick anyway).
If you have any questions about second opinion I can ask my boyfriend when he finishes, even though they don't operate as the hospitals do in how it works he has been through it with his family quite a few years ago so he could tell a bit more if you want.
Second opinions can be so helpful either to confirm treatment or suggest other ways of doing things. I've been involved in gastric cancer for some years due to my dad and since than have been quite involved in advocacy and education on it. My husband has just been diagnosed with ascending colon cancer (probably IIIc) and I was very grateful to have contacts already in place through my stomach cancer experience with dad - we're moving fast... diagnosis to surgery in 19 days.
We used Dr Vlavianos as our gastroenterologist - he is with HCA and for oncology we're using Dr Tobias Arkenau at Sarah Cannon and his surgeon will be Chris Chan also at HCA (and St Barts) - from what I understand he is an excellent surgeon, but we haven't tested him out yet, so to speak, but soon!
SDH x
Knowledge makes us stronger. Research, question, share and demand more from your doctors. Read my profile for my dad's stage IV story.
