Just that really...
Are they not referring you because other tests have shown they are not necessary?
no, because they simply haven't made the referral.
I'm going to ring the Consultant's secretaries tomorrow and I'm sending a letter.
I'm really confused about what testing has been done since you went to minor injuries last year and who has been co-ordinating your care.
It sounds like you have a respiratory specialist, but I'm not sure why you have a lung cancer nurse if you don't have a diagnosis yet. Was it the respiratory specialist who ordered the LFT, PET-CT and blood test? Have you been told the results of your LFT yet? It helps determine the nature of your respiratory problems, so it's relevant to any possible treatment pathway.
Reading about all of the tests you have had so far I would say that everything is in order. You have also been extremely lucky to have a galleri blood test, as I believe this is not available on the NHS yet only as a trial.
I think you may be getting a little confused about your respiratory nurse, as a lung cancer nurse is only appointed once you have an oncology consultant and you do not have one.
A bronchoscopy is done when there is something suspicious in the bronchial airway. I have had a rigid bronchoscopy and although it was under general anaesthetic it was not a pleasant experience. They have to clamp your mouth open, and in doing so snapped my front tooth. My throat was extremely sore for weeks after, the tube they use is not tiny, and a lot of force is used. My chest felt like they had been standing on it. This is not a procedure I would want to do again.
Your nodule is tiny. I don’t want to make light of this, but normal procedure for a small nodule is to wait and watch, especially as it didn’t light up on the PET scan. If you really feel like you haven’t been looked after properly, you can complain to the hospital PALS team. You can find the address for this online.
Are you able to take anyone with you to your appointments? As you have said your questions don’t get answered? Maybe a companion as sometimes we don’t always take in what we are being told, I know I don’t.
I do wonder if there have been changes of plan since mid-last year and they just haven't been clear about that. With my first cancer, it wasn't unusual for the plan to change multiple times, sometimes in the same day.
If the tests you've had to date aren't indicating a significant likelihood of cancer, I can understand why they would not pursue invasive testing at this stage and would instead focus on treating whatever other pulmonary issues testing has revealed.
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