There is no current 2 week rule on cancer diagnosis, only on being seen after a referral. The proposal is in fact that an actual diagnosis should be given within the 28 days timeframe, which at the moment not a lot of us are getting even when we do get seen within 2 weeks. The issue is (according to that article) that the recommendation was for 95%, whereas they are saying the NHS is proposing to set the target at only 75%.
Realistically, to get a definite diagnosis within 28 days you must be seen within 14 days of GP referral, because it takes at least 14 days for the pathology report to arrive, and that assumed they take a sample on the day you are first seen.
The speculative first line of that article is just scaremongering; not unusual for the newspapers.
I can't imagine how awful it must be to have to wait so long for diagnosis. I was very lucky - found a lump on a Wednesday, saw my GP the next morning, got a call from the Breast Clinic on the Monday asking if I could come in on Wednesday ( a week after I found a lump) and the following Thursday (2 weeks after I saw my GP), I had my official ER/+PR+ cancer diagnosis after biopsy which included HER2- status, though I had been told at breast clinic that they thought it was cancer.
I don't think they could have done it any faster if they'd tried!
I really feel for everyone that has had to wait for weeks. The waiting for results is the worst part, it is torture.
I’m in Staffordshire and I was referred on 24/1 seen and diagnosed on 28/2 after a mammogram, ultrasound and core biopsy. I’m still waiting for my biopsy results and I’m not dealing with this well. Today, I truly feel like I’m on the edge of a breakdown. I’m so utterly frightened and trying to hold it together for my little boy who is eight and knows nothing of what’s going on. It’s absolute torture not knowing what this thing inside me is.
I think the area they’re concerned about measures around 2cm and it’s located within a cluster of cysts ( I think that’s what they keep telling me but my brain repels the information) that’s about all the information I have.
I did phone the breast care nurse this morning and she was incredible at talking me down off the ceiling. I’ve been up and down since my diagnosis but this morning it was really bad. She did say my results may be back by tomorrow and they’ll discuss my case and I’ll probably be back for the results next week.
A nurse like that is worth her weight in gold in times like this; I am really glad she was able to do that for you, and that she is there for you when you need her.
It's easy to say 'stay strong' but the waiting is always the hardest It must be difficult having a little one and trying to be normal. Hopefully you will know the plan if action soon. Have you had any scans yet?
