How long do you wait diagnosis and treatment generally

Hi Rosemac. When you are told you have cancer, it can feel like a long wait before the treatment starts. There are so many tests and scans that need to take place so they can get the right treatment for you. 

There are NICE guidelines which the NHS have to follow. Every new “suspected” cancer patient is put on a pathway where there are targets of 62 days wait between the date cancer is suspected and referral sent, and the start of treatment.  There is also no more than 31 days from when treatment is discussed and treatment starting.

Hope this helps. 

Thank you so much. I just seem to have been waiting and waiting, although I have had some problems. In the beginning it was thought I had an eye melanoma and was sent to liverpool. This wasn't the case. I had a malignancy but it wasn't eye melanoma and I was Sent back to Christie s in Manchester where they thought I had cancer of unknown primary. This wasn't the case either and it seems I have a,tumour on lung as well.    I just need to find out what is/will be happening.     Thanks for listening.    X

Rodemac I am so sorry, you must be feeling like you are in limbo at the moment just not knowing. It is a horrible feeling waiting to find out what the actual diagnoses is, and it does seem to take so long. 
Was the lung tumour picked up on a Ct or MRI?  They may want to do a lung biopsy to find out what type of cancer it is x 

It was picked up on a ct scan.  It wasn't anywhere else except the eye and bottom of lung.  .  I am so worried because I have lost the sight in that eye now and don't want to lose it in other eye which I believe is possible. If it spreads.   X

I was also wondering if it was possible to start treatment without actually knowing which type of cancer it was.    X

I am sorry to hear you have lost the site in one eye. That must of taken some adjusting to.

I believe it is easier to treat the cancer if they know what type it is, as all cancer types react differently to different treatments. My cancer is a sarcoma which from a biopsy they realised it was oestrogen positive, so after some radiotherapy I am now on hormone therapy to block all oestrogen in my body. 

Different chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments are used to treat different cancer types. X 

Thank you so much for your reply and help.  Hopefully I will find out more soon.   X

Please let us know how you get on xx 

Will do. Going tomorrow. Am so dreadfully anxious.   X

I know how worried you must be. I will be thinking of you, sending you a virtual hug xx