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Current waiting time for breast clinic

Kristina1111
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Hi

Today I saw my gp who said there is some thick tissue on my left breast and has to refer me to breast clinic, I was told the waiting time is 11-12 weeks even if gp puts it as an urgent. Is it really such a long waiting time? It worries me to wait that long. 

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    No, there's a 2 week cancer pathway.  Being realistic with the current state of the UK and it's health service, it took my wife 3 weeks to get her appointment because a lot of hospitals/departments are at capacity for obvious reasons. So the 2 week thing isn't being strictly adhered too. After all, if you only have the capacity to see 100 per per week, you only have the capacity to see 100.  But your waiting time seems steep if it has indeed been referred using the cancer pathway. Your local health authority will have current expectations written down somewhere on their main website.  See if you can find their guidelines regarding possible cancer referrals. 

  • Hello and thanks for posting

    I am sorry to hear you are awaiting to be seen by the breast clinic and are concerned about how long you may need to wait.

    As someone has already said if someone is referred onto the suspected cancer pathway the guidelines are to be seen within 2 weeks. However there have been some delays for some patients being seen within this timing. Each unit is working as hard and as quickly as they possibly can to see people so hopefully you will hear something soon.

    If you haven't heard anything in the next 10 days then do give the GP a call to check the referral has been made and then you could call the breast unit directly to find out how long it might be.

    Try not to worry and take each day as it comes. Do remember that most people seen in a breast unit won't go on to be diagnosed with cancer, so hopefully there will be a less serious cause for the thickening.

    Please get back if you need to or you are welcome to call the nurses on 0808 800 4040, Mon-Fri 9-5.

    All the best

    Naomi

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    That waiting time seems excessive for an urgent appointment. When l have referred myself to the breast clinic on my open appointment they give me the next available appointment usually about 6 weeks. I have been recently and as a gp urgent 2 weeks wait l was seen the following week. I hope you are seen soon 

    You can ring and offer to take a short notice cancellation appointment. 
     

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