Tests & waiting

Also I have other pains in my side most likely making those up but I had polyps removed during 2 colonoscopies a year apart, somehow in my head I’m linking the 2 & think I should book another colonoscopy but they are really expensive, again are these pains phantom because I’m stressed or should I go get one to put my mind at ease . 

& another night of 3 hours sleep doesn’t help, wake up every night same anxiety bah!

Hi, sparkydog, without a doubt the waiting is awful, and very stressful. If you have paid privately for a MRI scan and they scanned the wrong area, surely, they should do another one in the right area, for no charge. As for paying for private scans, if you are able to and it would reduce your stress level, it is definitely worth thinking about. However, Friday is only three days away. Stick with us, we are here to help if we can.

Ray

Hi Sorry to hear that you are still so anxious about waiting. It is hard and very frustrating.

Were you referred to your hospital on an urgent referral?

England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, cancer treatment targets include confirming or ruling out cancer within 28 days of an urgent referral (Faster Diagnosis Standard) and starting treatment within 31 days of the decision to treat, or within 62 days of referral or consultant upgrade. I've been really lucky with my hospital, saw doc on 4th jan , urgent referral done  was in 3 days later. had mri, ct and pet scans plus biopsy. neck dissection last week and tumour removal tomorrow. All done within 3 months. I think once you've had your mri things will move abit quicker once they know what you are facing.

Have you seen anyone at hospital yet? have you got cancer clinician nurse specialist assigned to you yet? they are amazing at getting things sorted out.

Friday is not far away now, I'd stick with the appt rather than waste more money. Cant believe that your private mri wasn't done efficiently. I know anxiety is hard to control but not sleeping isnt going to help, have you tried breathing techniques.

Lins

Morning, private MRI i think i'll just put down to a bad decision, i'll most definitely oppose paying for it, they never even bothered to call back yesterday so dissapointing.. The only contact with the hospital has been the secretary of the ENT department yesterday saying nothing can be done until the MRI results & couldn't confirm when that would be done. I'm at Darent Valley hospital in Dartford Kent, i was referred on the fast track, got an appointment with ENT in 2 weeks & it will be 2 weeks on Friday that the MRI takes place, be over a month in total. I think reading other stories hasn't helped where it's spread, i feel every ache & pain & connect the dots, my mind has gone into a dark place. I do try breathing techniques but my thoughts are so all over the place i just can't switch off.. Wish i could take a pill to make me sleep for a month, mind you i wish my brain wouldn't hyper focus either, i'm my own worst enemy at the moment. I’ve gone down in weight too which could be stress but it’s adding to the anxiety 

Thank you, i think i'll get friday out the way then discuss with ENT about further tests & try to avoid waiting, i'm not mentally strong enough really

sparkydog said:

Thank you, i think i'll get friday out the way then discuss with ENT about further tests & try to avoid waiting, i'm not mentally strong enough really

I know it’s awful waiting but these things have to be done in an order so that the best treatment can be offered. You won’t have a biopsy till the mri is done and reported. I was four months from GP to treatment. A few weeks doesn’t make much difference. 

Hi, I understand the anxiety fully. A friend of mine had a private scan and the NHS would not recognise it. I had a CT scan on the NHS under the urgent referral and FDS mentioned in this discussion. I had the scan at 14:40 on a Friday and the result was with an NHS consultant on the following Tuesday. I am now waiting for an MDT this week.

I suppose what I am trying to say is that a scan may be quicker but the scan results still have to be seen by an NHS consultant if you are not going fully private and there might be a delay there.

Good luck and best wishes

Hi tgexwautings the worst part. With hindsight my lump in my neck was there a good 10 weeks before I came home from Spain. Cancer wasn’t on

my radar so I thought pulled muscle then I went to gp and was a further 62 days before treatment started so try not to stress there’s a due process. You can’t hurry if. 

hugs for Friday 

Hazel x