1st year mammogram cancelled

Hi ruthie2 Even though, as has been said, your mammogram will most likely be clear,  I can understand why you are concerned about the cancellation. Some delay is understandable but that is nearly a year. I think in your position I would be ringing up to express my concern and trying to find out if there was any way of getting a mammogram earlier than that. I know you are in the private system now but if they can't fit the scan in due to hospitals being taken over by the NHS for Covid reasons, is there any way you can get a mammogram via the NHS? I appreciate that may not be easy for you to try to organise but sometimes you might need to push for what you feel you need (and under NHS guidelines you would be due an annual mammogram?)

Thanks so much Jojodot & &

Toothtinks too.

im more bloody angry about it now, in effect I’m paying twice for treatment that’s half as good!

ive spoken to my health insurance who say that I can have a mammogram anywhere, as long as the hospital is on their list, unfortunately none are accepting new patients. I’m now thinking of transferring back to the nhs but I don’t know anyone who’s done this and how easy it will be and will it be any quicker anyway? My gp is next to useless anyway, they didn’t even know I’d had treatment!

Hi ruthie2

I remember you have always found your GP unsatisfactory. Maybe that’s the change you should make if it’s possible. Then they may be able to get you a mammogram on NHS. Just a thought.

Jojodot X

That’s a good point Jojodot

think I need to step away for a while right now, I’m just winding myself right up!

ruthie2 Yes, once you have had time to ponder, I would think it is definitely worth asking your GP how easy it would be to swap to NHS care and request your annual mammogram. You never know, it may turn out to be easier than you think. (I have no personal experience of changing from private to NHS though) and if its too tricky, at least you will have tried. Sending best wishes. 

Hi Ruthie2 , I think a year delay from when your original mammogram was due is a big ask. I have just recently had my letter through to postpone my 1st year mammogram cancelled, due October. I have been really struggling emotionally just now and my husband has chased up my appointment to protect my mental well-being. I like you know that it is a precautionary measure however I just feel I can't move forward until I get this next hurdle out of the way. I now have a new appointment rearranged for the November, so not too much of a further wait. I would definitely try chasing them up to see what can be done.

Tale care x

Thanks I’m so pleased that you were able to get an appointment, at least you’ve a date to countdown to!

i have to be my own advocate unfortunately, welI I suppose I don’t but my hubby has more than enough on his plate at the mo tho I did ask no1 son who’s a consultant paramedic to get his POV and basically he said I have to either complain or put up with it. I just can’t even begin to summon the will or energy to complain, especially as I’m still under their care, it’s be like pi$$ing off the chef whose making my dinner! 

I got a reply from my consultants secretary when I asked about reverting back to nhs, here it is - 

‘ ‘Thank you for your email.  I totally appreciate these are still difficult and anxious times but I believe GP's are still able to refer patients on the NHS should it be an urgent referral under the two week fast track system and should you have any concerns then of course this would be the correct route to take.

As we are not an NHS hospital but only under contract with the NHS at present we are governed by the patients that are deemed urgent and can only treat them currently i.e. cancer surgery, chemotherapy.  

We are not a fast track hospital and so are unable to see fast track referral patients.

Most consultants are under contract with the NHS and so are not able to resume private practice just yet as NHS practice takes priority.  We are working diligently to try and get the hospital in a position to be able to resume face to face consultations and as soon as we do we will be contacting all patients for review.

I hope this goes some way to explaining the position we are facing currently and please be assured that as soon as we can we will arrange review for you.’’

hmmm..... strange as I am still having phone consultations with my onc from the same hospital.

I rang my gp about reverting to the Nhs, to be fair he did ring back quickly but basically said it wouldn’t be any quicker as they are still clearing their own backlog unless I needed to be seen as an urgent referral, which I don’t .

cant get a private mammogram for love nor money as they are all part of the nhs now so they aren't being done at all, I did find a thermography company who has availability in October so I’ve posted asking if anyone knows anything about this.

so, looks like I’m gonna have to put up and shut up. Think I’ll try to forget the whole blasted lot!

I'm sorry to hear this, I like you would not have had the energy or strength to complain. Your route does seem trickier, not fair that you are now struggling to get your check up, the fact you were fortunate enough to be seen quicker down the private route now seems to be the holdup, which is so unfair we all deserve peace of mind and follow up care. I do understand the backlog but hopefully they will keep your welfare in mind and try to rearrange as quickly as possible, or now that you are a Nhs patient can you go back to your consultant and ask again? My husband only made one call and then heard back the next day. I hope you can get what you are looking for or are able to find peace in the meantime if not.

Take care.

Hi

I am a private patient and my BC treatment has been done at my local Private Hospital, however, I have opted to have my breast screening in the NHS as I had paid to have them done privately for the previous 2 mammograms prior to diagnosis and I feel it was a mistake, the last one was done at the end of October, 2 months prior to me finding a lump, I'd mentioned at the screening I'd had breast pain and it wasn't taken any further than the screening, there are no Radiologists to talk to and the mammographer isn't a Doctor. The Radiologists come in to look at the mammograms and write the report. In addition, I had extremely dense breast tissue and calcifications in the cancerous breast and that wasn't analysed either.  With hindsight, I wished I'd not been so trusting.  I now feel the NHS is the best place for screening as they have a Doctor on the unit every day, along with the mammographers and Radiologists and so in theory their should be back up if any concerns are raised. 

My BC Nurse told me you can switch between the NHS and Private, although my Consultant doesn't agree with it!  

Hi all, thanks for the replies, advice, support and experiences, it helps a lot to know I’m not alone.

ive since wound myself down and sent lots of emails and made lots of phone calls and the upshot was my insurance agreed to fund a consultation and mammogram with a different consultant at a different hospital once I’d done all the leg work. This was set up for 29th July, yay go me!

Then guess what??? Literally a couple of days later the secretary of my original consultant called me to say that face to face appointments are now being resumed and would I be able to go on the 25th July? Of course I did say yes but it’s all pending a phone call on the 20th to confirm. I haven’t cancelled the 29th just in case, but it goes to show it doesn’t work being a patient patient, with nhs or the private sector. If I hadn’t have said anything, well.....,

Oncologist was supposed to call me yesterday but didn’t so an email later I got a call to say the appointment had been sent in error. I asked if I could have a phone appointment anyway (was put on exemestane cos anastrozole sent me psycho but not doing so good so thinking tamoxifen is next) and lo and behold that’s next Wednesday afternoon.

think they’re gonna be sooo fed up with me now!