Wait times for treatment to start

I was diagnosed with a Lobular cancer on the 11th September. I was first seen by a GP on the 21st August, breast clinic with biopsy on the 23rd August. I've since had MRI, CT and Bone scan. Now they want to do more biopsies on the 11th October and psych consult on the 18th Oct. But I've requested a double mastectomy. I don't want to go through this again and it's already 7cm on the right side. I just want to get surgery booked in and biopsies afterwards. According to government guidelines they're meant to start treatment with in 2 weeks from now. By the 22nd October.

What do I do to get an answer from the surgeons or breast clinic on treatment? Should I pay privately and claim medical negligence for not hitting the targets they set? 

Thank you 

  • Hi there again soundy 

    Waiting for tests and treatment can be really unsettling and I can appreciate how you are keen to get the operation out of the way. However it sounds like the doctors are trying to gather as much information as possible about what they are dealing with first.

    If there are further abnormal areas identified on the scans you have had they are probably wanting to find out what these are before carrying out treatment. This is important so they can give you the most appropriate treatment.

    Whilst there are set out times and guidelines for cancer diagnosis and treatments, they are i'm afraid only recommendations. Unfortunately many patients are waiting much longer than ideal at the moment in the NHs and this can cause a lot of anxiety for both patients and their loved one's.

    I am unsure if going down the private route would speed up or simplify this process for you. The doctors and nurses working in the NHS are working as hard as they can to try and get patients diagnosed and treated as quickly as they can, but it is a struggle with a lack of resources and backlogs of waiting lists in every hospital.

    I really hope you don't have to wait too much longer for treatment.

    All the best

    Naomi