Length of time to get treatment

Hi Mable  welcome but sorry to see you here.

The two month target hasn't been met by ANY trust for years. It's all rubbish governmental and NHS politics. There has just been announced another efficiency initiative investigation ....More money away from the coalface! Sorry for the rant.

Mable said:

hospital is 90 mins away- asked if we could go to the one that’s 30 mins away to be met pretty much with a no

It's likely that your nearer hospital doesn't have radiotherapy facilities

Mable said:

 So going to be 5 months before any treatment

Try not to worry about that. It won't make much difference. I was four months between Dr appointment and starting treatment and that was before Covid and all these doctors' strikes.

Stay with us. You'll probably have lots of questions and there is always somebody here to help

Hi Mable

T2N1M0 Tonsil cancer HPV+...finished Chemoradio treatment June 2023

Swollen tonsil...I first went to my GP nearly 2 years before being diagnosed....treatment centre was a 70 mile round trip every day for 6-8 weeks....then a 12 day hospital stay......despite having a major hospital 5 mins away.

Now on the road to recovery....tough and stressful  times for patients and carers, but things will improve.... we have to roll with the punches

Take care and best of luck

Peter

It took me 5 months to get treatment too - no consolation to you I know. In retrospect I would have chased up more as I think when I have its miraculously brought an appointment forward. 

You need the patience of a saint! 

Good luck and take care of yourselves 

Rachel - 5 months since treatment ended on back of tongue tumour radio and chemo 6 weeks. Feel lots better - got through it ok in the end 

Hi Mabel, yes it must be both frustrating and worrying for you both to have to wait for treatment. I first noticed a unusual senation in my throat in the January of 2021 and a subsequent GP in March and Dentist in the April failed to refer me. For much of this time Covid was still a major concern and I do sometimes wonder if that had an impact on my examinations. A second GP exam in the May did identify the potential cancer and this was quickly followed by biopsy. teeth extractions and scans. By the time my CRT started in mid July my tumour was quite obviously visible. However following this treatment my scans in December showed clear. 

Wishing you all the best for your husband's treatment.

- John

I was so frustrated for my mum. She found out she had neck cancer in October. Started treatment 26th Feb! 
fingers crossed it gets speedy for you, good luck 

Good evening, i can assure you that this is not the normal way the NHS operates and im so sorry and saddened to be reading about all the delays. From diagnoses to treatment/ surgery is normally 3 months max but some people do fall through the net, i understand what you mean about not seeing the same consultant, i had a similar issue. I told them that i wanted to have one person as my consultant, not Tom Dick or Harry, the main reason being is you should build up a relationship with the consultant and his/her team as i often found that some Drs did not even read my notes hence why you might have experienced delays. Sometimes the nearest hospital might not have the facilities or expertise but keep pushing for the nearest hospital if they treat cancer patients. I hope that things start to run smoother for you and your husband. Take care.

                                                                                Chris x

Hi Mable. Welcome to the forum.  You’ll get lots of support and advice here.  It was so helpful for me at the start of my journey and beyond.  I was 4 months from my first GP visit to treatment starting.  I found the wait to be very difficult too.  I hope you get your treatment plan and start date soon.  Wishing you well.  

HunMabel welcome from me as well Try nit to stress about timescales once treatment gets under way thjngs will work out. I discovered my lump late February was away until May  cancer was furthest thing from my mind I was fit cycling daily no issues eating.  By time  we got home in May it was July before treatment started and her I am approaching 5.5 years all,good. I will add you have to be proactive in chasing appointments now. . I had to travel up to 90  mins some days due to traffic has not all hospitals have radiotherapy units and specialised cancer units. 

any questions just ask. 
Hazel

we have also found you have to chase - lots !

thank you - another appt - another consultant - felt like we were starting all over again - not sure he had even read the notes & asked my husband what he thought the problem was - looked so surprised when we said we have already been told it's cancer