Duty of candour?

The duty of candour is just about your healthcare peeps being straight up with you about your diagnosis and treatment. It's like keeping things real.

Thank you. They seem to be focusing on the fact that nothing showed up in my mammogram but I did, in fact have a cancerous lump… 

I guess it’s good that they are looking into it 

Hello Jacster, so sorry you are joining this group.  My brother is a barrister (on the medical side) and deals with these things on a regular basis.  He tells me Duty of Candour is about honesty from the medics on treatment, results or any potential issues..  I think if we all ask about everything that affects us with our cancer, we would be overwhelmed by the explanations of the risks, results and harsh invasive procedures. We are usually given bite sized information to absorb before the next onslaught. Some people want to know everything that is going to happen, some don’t! Whatever your doctors suggest, feel free to question.  I wish you well xxx

Thank you, my inquisitive mind and imagination is in overdrive, I just can’t seem to switch off. Hopefully, as things progress, I will find a way of coping day by day (as everyone keeps advising). 
Thanks for the info and good wishes x

Hi Jacster I am aware that sometimes, and they are rare, but there are occasions when a Mammogram doesnt always pick up an Breast Cancer and especially  a Lobular Cancer, which doesnt grow in the same way other cancers do . This has happened before for others on here and Im sure that they will pop along shortly to talk with you.

The Dutu of Candour is about being open and honest with you but please just be aware it may not result in any one person per sae as this is something that does happen but rarely.  

I was diagnosed in 2021 and the first thing the consultant said was it was on my 2019 mammogram!! I have only just been able to become angry over this. A duty of candor has been mentioned to me. I wrote a letter to get it off my chest (excuse the pun) and had not reply it’s been 6 months since the letter. It’s now in the hands of my solicitor to get the answers. 

I have mammogram 2013 which showed calcifications, I’ve discovered since they’re a pre cursor to cancer! Went back for mammogram 2015, no sign of calcifications, went again 2018, no calcifications, then 2021 found lump in LB..Spoke to GP who admitted I should have been followed up in 2013. Did speak to the mammogram head of department but decided not to go ahead with anything as I was already under stress being diagnosed as Stage 3….Wish I’d known more way back when….

I have a very strong family history of BC and had mammograms every year since age 32 until 50 then 3 yearly. I knew my boobs looked after myself and checked myself. I found a lump at the time my mum died and it was small I knew it was different. I had pain in my lower corner of my right breast and GP sent me for an ECG in march 21. Lump diagnosed May21. I had full LND as one was full of cancer. I’m suffering from tendonitis and sciatic pain which could be tamoxifen. I have a come and go ache and tender areas in my left breast. Been followed up and told all ok. Dreadful hip pain at night when lying on my side. I’m just fed up with it all and I may stop tamoxifen as it’s no fun. I’m 59 and it was all so avoidable. 

Nothing seen on mammogram.

Then intense breast pain, overnight thickening, and lobular diagnosed.

Really found this interesting about your pain through Tamoxifen…I’m on Letrozole for next 8 yrs and had 3rd Zoladronic acid infusion in October … my knees and shoulder are hurting, moments of what feels like sciatica, aching, painful to the point I’ve suffered enough and have GP appointment next week. I don’t know which drug or degenerative ageing is responsible and I know GP won’t really be able to help. I certainly feel your pain….you should be under MacMillan and Oncology for 5 yrs so see if you can speak to oncology before stopping any drugs..xxx