Biopsy cancellation - no luck

Hi Dogs4me 

When I have needed to 'gee things up' I have visited our trust's cancer centre in person and asked to speak to a person responsible. It's worked for me twice.

My Trust had biopsy clinics on two days  per week (Thursday & Friday) with eight patients per day but did call in private support to put on a Saturday clinic when necessary.

Rod

Hello Dogs4me 

I know what you mean about the worry - I am sure LH's biopsy is scheduled for a Sunday too.

Let's hope everything gets sorted before then. At least the GP's come up trumps. Again, let's hope the Tamsulosin works.

Best wishes - Brian.

Thanks Rod. I don't think I will ever get LH to do that given the difficulty I had getting him to phone. Thank you for your reply though. Much appreciated

Yes it is scheduled for the Sunday after the strike begins on the Friday

Fingers crossed on the Tamsulosin!

Hello - do you know who you spoke with at the hospital? When we were chasing appointments for my husband I spoke with the urology services manager and she sorted things for us.

I then started keeping a diary and noted down name, direct phone number and what was said for each and every interaction with each of the departments we paassed through. This was invaluable in saying 'But on 9date) you said.....'

I just could not take 'no' for an answer at the time. You may also find your prostate cancer nurse specialists helpful - for us some, but not all, were brilliant 

Another thing to be aware of is that people are being told different lengths of time for getting their biopsy results. This wait for results is an anxious time. It may be a good idea to confirm when you should expect the results and note the name and contact number down!!!

We did find that after the biopsy showing cancer was present, he needed scans.I think this is a common practice. Again, we took a last minute cancellation

HTH

Good luck!

No stupidly we didn't ask her name. But it is good advice going forward. 

I will make sure we ask about time frame for results when he finally gets there!

Can I ask what scans were required after the biopsy? He has had an MRI and an MRI marrow so far. A PSMA PET scan was vaguely mentioned at one point as a possibility but not sure when that would be.

Many thanks

D4Me

That approach seem to be the most successful at getting results.

It's so sad that it is the one who shouts loudest gets the better service but that seems to be the way it is. 

Hello Rod

From day 1 I had an indwelling catheter and needed a TURP operation to enable me to wee properly. I was told the waiting list was 12 - 18 months.

I was chatting to my CNS and the conversation went like this:

Me : Julie I need this TURP operation so I can have my radiotherapy.

CNS : Brian, it's the NHS - he who shouts loudest gets!

Me : JULIE - I NEED THIS BLOODY TURP OPERATION NOW!!!!!

CNS : (Laughing) OK you've shouted, leave it with me.

Quarter of an hour later my telephone rang - 

Hello is that Brian? This is booking and scheduling, can you come in for you pre-op on Friday?

And the rest is history - I rest my case.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi Oscar, I always advise people to be ‘politely assertive’ rather than shout or be aggressive etc

from what I have gleaned here, some people have PSMA scans, some have CT scans and others have bone scans after cancer has been found in the biopsy. I don’t know the rationale for each. My husband had a bone scan and , thankfully that was clear. He had an MRI scan prior to the biopsy and after his raised PSA .   

So, the order of service seems to be : raised PSA for two consecutive blood samples, mri, biopsy to determine cancer present, further scans to detect any potential secondaries.

no, not stupid! We didn’t think to get names to start with! Then we began to lose track of everything so I started my diary. It came in so very useful! We ended up making a formal complaint to the hospital and so I had every detail at my fingertips! It also gave me some sense of control or power at a time when everything was spiralling out of control.