Hi Turtlemari

im recovering from wide local excision 

for basalsquamous tumour on my lower left leg 

I sent a photo of the lesion to my gp back in April she said she would reffer me to see a dermatologist 

I wait 7 weeks and then rang out patients 

as was told they were just seeing Januarys urgent cases

which was me

ihadnt had a diagnosis biopsy or seen anyone

i panicked I rang the local private hospital and got and apt in one weeks time 

the dermatologist said it needed a biopsy 

which was arranged for the following week 

had to wait 2 weeks for histology 

and was confirmed squamous skin cancer 

he said I would be seen quickly back in NHS

but May need a plastic surgeon as a skin graft would be needed to take enough tissue and repair the hole 

the consultant and the biopsy and testing was

about £700

They was a plastic surgeon in the next room that I could see so I decided to get his opinion 

he offered to refer me urgently through his practice to the NHS quickly 

Or he could do it in a weeks time £2350 was the cost 

local anesthetic full theatre team because of the skin graft 

this was all the after care and everything 

results would be 2 weeks because of the histology 

I have a large hole in my leg the tumour was 1 mm

he took large margins 8mm 

but it's gone and no other treatment is necessary 

I feel bad about jumping the queue but I had the money and went with it 

but relieved I've had it done 

the wait times are dreadful 

I was out of my mind with worry 

this is just my experience 

I hope you can take the information and see what you might do 

Joanie 

I've already had breast cancer 6 years ago 

all ok up to now 

Hello turtlemari and thanks for posting, 

Unfortunately, there are some capacity issues in the NHS at the moment and as a result the standard waiting times to diagnose and treat cancers are being stretched in some areas which isn't ideal. Understandably, waiting for a diagnosis can trigger a lot of anxiety.   

These waiting time targets were set to try and diagnose and treat cancer urgently so I think it is reasonable to be concerned if your care isn't within the target time frames.  You can read more about the waiting times on our website here.   

There is an overall 62 day target which starts when you see your GP and get referred. This target means that anyone referred urgently by their GP because cancer is suspected should start treatment within that time frame, this includes however long it takes to be seen by the specialist or to have tests. Surgery (an excisional biopsy) is counted as the first treatment for melanoma, so if this happens within 62 days of seeing your GP, I think you would be on track. But the biopsy is needed to confirm the diganoses, I am not sure how certain the skin specialsit is, some biopsies will be ok.  

To get an NHS appointment sooner you can try speaking to the skin cancer outpatient clinic again and see what they can offer - sometimes they have cancellations. Or you can ask your GP if they can refer you somewhere else. The alternative would be to pay for private health care which can be expensive.

Waiting is very hard on the nerves and it can help to try and take your mind off things if you can. Most people successfully treated for melanoma will have had it for quite a while before going to see their GP, so bear this in mind. 

Give us a call if you want to talk anything over. Our Freephone number is 0808 800 4040 and we are around from 9-5, weekdays, 

Best wishes, 

Julia

Thank you for your reply, Julia.

Sadly, I'm past the 62-day target wait which is why I'm anxious (still a month to go until my biopsy). I've talked to the outpatient an they cannot see me any sooner. They also said they can't refer me anywhere else (I don't know why). 

I'm contemplating going private at the moment, I feel quite let down.

Hi Turtkemari

i should have said the hospital I attended did interest free instalments to pay 

I apreciate the problems in the NHS 

but I checked out of curiosity where I am on the list today 

she said I hadn't been waiting long 3 Months !

here we are in August and they are still just doing Januarys urgent referrals 

my mental health couldn't have taken anymore 

the breast cancer I had 6 years ago is still far too  fresh  

 in my mind 

surely this cannot be right 

Joanie

Hello turltlemari and thanks for getting back to us,

I can understand you feeling let down by the system. 

I think it would have to be your GP that referred you somewhere else, but if they agreed, I don't know if you would be seen any faster. 

If you haven't already, it might be worth contacting the hospital Patient Advice and Liaison Service at the hospital and ask if they can help at all.

If should be possible to get some idea of the likely costs of going private from a private hospital to help you decide if this is what you want to do. .

Take care,

Julia