In March I went to my GP with a lump on my scalp and rough skin in my eyebrow. After a quick look and reviewing my history of having 2 BCCs removed from my face and throat nearly 20 years ago he announced “that is cancer” about my scalp and “that is a precancerous lesion over your eye”.
He referred me to a dermatologist at the local hospital who also said “yes that’s cancer” and said that I would be put on the list for surgery - that the waiting list was 5-6 months. She also gave me some chemotherapy cream for my eyebrow.
Apart from a letter from the consultant saying that I was on the waiting list, I heard nothing so went to the GP in July - he was surprised that I hadn’t had surgery. A couple of weeks later I called at the GPs surgery and saw the secretary who called the consultant’s office to check on progress - she was told that 6 months seemed about right to wait.
i phoned the “waiting list” asking about waiting times and was told that 12 months is about what to expect as they are very busy with more urgent cases. I returned to the GPs secretary with this news who phoned and was told that I could go on the cancellation list and maybe the doctor should write an “expedite letter” - it might not do any good but there was a chance !
All this time waiting is very stressful (I know a BCC is not life threatening but it is still scary) and I’m getting headaches and paranoia about other small lumps and rough patches on my scalp (probably nothing - but it plays on your mind !)
I’m in Staffordshire - is 12 months waiting time reasonable? … what if they turn round and say the wait is now 18 months ? … can I do anything ?
