Waiting times!?!?!

Hi Pauline

I'm afraid all these things do take time and I do know how you feel. When you are expecting a diagnosis like this you really want it done yesterday. The diagnostic tests all have to be looked at by the MultiDisciplinary Team MDT. This comprises surgeons, oncologist, pathologists, radiologists and radiographers plus all the nursing disciplines involved. They usually meet once a week to discuss, in the round, all the patients under their care.If your scan was done on the 1st the report would be available to the referring doctor around three working days later. If this misses that weeks MDT then you have to wait another week so actually all this is in the average time scale. I'm not excusing just explaining.

A week extra won't make any difference.

The next step will be likely to make your mask and plan the radiotherapy

The planning process is largely done on computer but still needs a lot of the radiologists input and that will take more time as well. The radiation has to be delivered with pinpoint accuracy to kill the cancer and minimise damage to as much healthy tissue as possible

I found my tongue cancer in the first week of August. I knew exactly that it was an SCC. I had my final diagnosis in October and wasn't under the Linac till December 12th. I've recovered well and I'm three and half years clear. 

Try not to worry

Hi Pauline  as Dani says it’s all takes time there’s a tried  and trusted path that the nhs take. I was first put on pathway 14 May treatment started just within the 63 days on 16 July. I had my last scan prior to treatment a pet ct scan on the 9 th July prior to that I had ct scan mri biopsy then planning scan. Then  the m d t reviews and s plan is formulated.
The waiting’s horrible but they will be working behind the scenes. Yes contact nurse ti see what’s happening. 
Hazel x

Thank you. Have emailed Specialist nurse to get update.

All makes sense. It's the 'fits and starts'   I

I have emailed Specialist nurse to check where we are. Thank you.

Call from Hospital yesterday.  Oncology on the 20th July.

Things should get moving now 

My own experience was a bit of a nightmare to be honest pauline, i first noticed a non painful, single sided lump in my mouth. I went to the urgent care centre who diagnosed tonsilitis and gave me antibiotics.

As it was painless and single sided i was not convinced by the diagnosis and called my gp who basically said 'shut up and take your 2 weeks antibiotics' ..which i did ... and only then did my 2 week referral start.

The time between GP agreeing to refer me and seeing the first consultant was about 2.5 weeks. Then i had another 2 weeks to see a different consultant who took a sample (core biopsy)

After that it was about 2 weeks for treatment

So from me first seeing a doctor to treatment starting was about 6.5 weeks

But the treatment still worked so try not to worry too much 

I first saw a GP in March who told me it was muscular!  Long story but actually seen Oncology at Sussex Cancer Centre this Wednesday. Its been a long-time.