Treatment : NHS or Private ?

I had the same issue and chose the NHS. Apart from a small delay in treatment commencement every other aspect has been brilliant. I guess it depends on the NHS hospital available to you. I have had operations in both sectors during my life so I think it was an informed choice. I have never at any stage regretted it. Obviously they carry out these procedures successfully in the private sector but do they have the resources when things get complicated. I would not want to find out or be worrying that I had the right cover in place for every twist and turn. Some inconveniences for sure, lack of privacy, bathrooms etc but nothing major that in any way made it the wrong choice 

I'm sincerely sorry you have this absolutely dreadful disease. But I'm afraid your post made me feel very uncomfortable when the NHS is under so much strain , I don't feel this is an appropriate place for consumer choice discussion.

It will be the same surgeon/ oncologist for private as for NHS. Depends on a hospital but a lot of private ones have ICU beds to be used post surgery, my wife had a surgery in the private hospital and we could not fault it.

The main issue with private is that they do not do emergency, if it is life threatening when at home then expectation is to go to a&e/ call 999. Having said that, for complications which were not urgent, private hospitals can arrange admissions (my wife was admitted several times due to bad reaction to chemo/ opioids as well as being transferred from NHS a&e for non life threatening treatment).

My NHS care was nothing short of superb, from time of diagnosis through 8 months of treatment. The care provided, facilities and turnaround times were all excellent.

However, I also had a private consultant to act as a second opinion and also to get access to drugs that are not available through the NHS. In fact, I have just started treatment with a regimen that the NHS does not offer.

May I ask what drugs/regimen were you able to get privately? My stepdad has had chemo and radio and it hasn't stopped his tumor. But he remains pretty well despite the cancer and doesn't want to give up

Hi Donna,

Ramucirumab is only available privately and is used alongside Paclitaxel