Very slow diagnosis!

Hi Meiard welcome to the forum and that sounds like a bit of a nightmare quite honestly.

You need to make an urgent call to your GP whom I assume has started this process off with a referral to the appropriate department and they need to get this moving  for you so push hard for them to do this as the NHS remains open for business and whats happening  for you is their business so jog their memories and get them moving for you. 

Thanks for this. My GP is part time and well meaning but has been pretty ineffective so far. I feel so powerless. When I found my breast dent, I was able to get a diagnosis in ten days. It is unfortunate that I have retired to Eastbourne, a black hole for treatment. 

Hello Meiard

I am so sorry to hear that your path to diagnosis and treatment has been less than timely. That sort of additional anxiety is the last thing you need. Geographically, I am not a million miles from you and I know exactly where you are coming from. My diagnosis and treatment for primary breast cancer has taken place largely through the Covid crisis and I too feel that all sense of urgency has been allowed to dissipate and I have been left to languish. There has been no follow up. I saw an oncologist only once, on the day the first Lockdown was announced. He said, “See you in three months...” And that was it. I haven’t seen a living, breathing doctor since. Just a couple of less than helpful tick-box phone calls from an anonymous member of the team. 

Those who are lucky enough to be under the care of specialist cancer hospitals and larger centres of excellence appear to have fared much better during the pandemic, but those of us at further flung corners and south coast ‘black holes’ know from bitter experience that the NHS is far from open for business as usual. 

I agree with Granny59. You need to make a nuisance of yourself and pester your GP to agitate for action on your behalf. You shouldn’t be in this situation of having to summon the energy for a battle to get things moving. 

I hope you will soon be able to relax a little and in a position to put full confidence and trust in your team. Good luck from a fellow seaside-retiree! x

Thanks for this Besidethesea . I am fortunate enough to be able to see someone privately and am in the process of arranging this. But it shouldn’t be necessary. I was first treated in Crawley, not exactly the most luxurious hospital, but the staff were excellent. I then moved to East London and had really supportive care in crumbling buildings. But Eastbourne is such a disappointment; the Radiology dept has been good, but the rest is chaotic. I do hope you have had the treatment you need despite the lack of care!

You’re right Meiard; no one should have to pay for cancer treatment and certainly not for an acceptably prompt diagnosis. Coincidentally I too have moved down from East London. Unfortunately, cancer provision of the local hospitals wasn’t on my priority list of must-haves when choosing a place to retire. A bit naive, I suppose. You live and learn.

Again, wishing you the very best of luck and the very best of care.

Thanks. Just been for a walk by the sea; not all bad!