Hi Shani

I am sorry to hear about your husband’s situation and I can appreciate the worry you have about how long he is waiting for his surgery to happen.

NHS England has introduced a new target called the Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS). The target is that you should not wait more than 28 days from referral to find out whether you have cancer or not. This is part of a wider NHS England plan to focus more on the speed at which someone gets their results and diagnosis.

Hospitals are struggling to meet cancer waiting targets due to staff shortages and the impact of winter pressures on the NHS. If you have not yet done so, it may be helpful to contact the hospital's Patient Advice and Liaison Service  (PALS)  to inform them of any delays you may be experiencing. It may also be a good idea to inform your GP about the waiting period.

Waiting is difficult so I hope you know more about your husband’s situation soon.

Please get back to us if you need any more information or support.  You may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

Kind regards,

Tina