New referral after 5-years of lesion on tongue being ignored by dentist

Hi Harri. We briefly spoke in the New to the Community group but welcome here. 

Harri123 said:

I have booked a completely unaffordable private consultation

I did too but my nhs appointment came through on the same day so I cancelled it. 

Harri123 said:

- Is it normal to simply hear nothing for weeks after an urgent referral? 

Unfortunately yes but just keep chasing if you haven’t heard two weeks after your referral. 

Harri123 said:

- If I can't get any info next week and end up going for a private diagnosis, will this affect my time to NHS treatment?

No

You can seamlessly be transferred to NHS. Your private Maxfac will work in the NHS and if they can’t take you on somebody else will 

PS do you have access to Your NHS portal? There may be something there. 

Thanks Dani.  It is reassuring to hear that my experience is pretty much the norm.

There's nothing in my NHS portal.  I was wondering if this might be because the referral was from a private dentist, rather than an NHS GP?  I have submitted a message to my GP surgery to see if they can tell me any more.

I'm hoping that I'll get some news from the NHS by Friday, if not then I think I will go for the private diagnosis just to get things moving.  We really shouldn't have to do this...

Many thanks for your support.  I hope you're doing well.

Harri x

Harri123 said:

I have submitted a message to my GP surgery to see if they can tell me any more.

That’s a good idea. Your dentist should have copied you GP into your referral. 

Harri123 said:

We really shouldn't have to do this...

No you’re right. Some trusts are better than others. I’m in Wales which says it all. 
Luckily I landed myself a good team and an oncologist that looked after me for the whole five years rather than shunt me off to my local ENT. 

Once you’re in the system things move fast  

Harri123 said:

I hope you're doing well.

I am, thank you Harri. I’m six years clear now and my side effects are minimal. 

Hi Dani,

I have called the dental hospital (where my dentist said that the referral was being sent) and they have no record of having received it.  Apparently, everything is sent by post!  But they said that they should have received it by now.

They told me to go back to my dentist (which I've done) but they said that this is likely to mean any appointments for diagnosis and treatment will be delayed - possibly for another 4-weeks.  I'm finding this very difficult.

I still have the private appointment booked for Friday and will go to get the ball rolling.  Do you know how long it takes from biopsy to decision generally?  Is it pretty fast, or is it a matter of weeks more waiting?

Many thanks,

Harri

What a stupid thing! Post? Madness. 
Yes keep your private appointment and take it from there. 
First appointment will be a physical exam. Biopsy will be booked. It may take a week or so under NHS but maybe days privately but that will be expensive. Biopsy results usually are two to three weeks whichever avenue is taken. Then there will likely be an MRI. So we are talking treatment a month away from now at the earliest. Fingers crossed. 

Thanks Dani.

Apparently, the private consultant can take a biopsy there and then, so hopefully, that will speed things up.  It will cost more than I can really afford, but probably worth it now.

I'll let you know.

Thank you so much for your support.  It makes a huge difference.

All the best,

Harri x

Excellent. Things will get moving. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.