Here, here ....

The trouble with these results and the overwhelming emotions involved, can not be felt, untill it happens to them ... everyone else can empathise or imagine ... but in a lot of cases , where the patient has little support, they feel so lost .. like in a huge maze that no one is helping them through ...

I know everything is stretched ... staff and Drs and oncology teams are doing the best they can under pressure to get the right result and plan of action if tests are positive .. most are amazing, and how they do this heartbraking job , day in and out, I can't imagine ... 

But oh my, if only those that could change the system, knew how terrifying the wait is .. they would put something in place .. esp hard when that patient has young children ... looking back over my almost two years .. the biopsy/ the radio active scans ... the masectomy  ... the emergency op a few hours later .. the draining of fluid twice ... the op a few months later for two more lumps that were calsification ..

Which was the hardest part ... the waiting for results each time ... but I was so lucky to have the most amazing family that held me up ... but yes telemando ... if we could change one thing on here, I'm with you ... someone to give everyone waiting,  a number to call if they need it ... a safety net ...

Here's to kicking cancers *** ... Chrissie x

Hi telemando I agree wholeheartedly there are a lot of people waiting a lot longer than TWO weeks, especially when some C are fast spreading, I know myself from finding my C to starting treatment was over FOUR months alot can happen in that time. I would think that if a politician was ill they would be sorted very quickly, (mind you they probably go private)..

Billy 

Hi Telemando, I agree.  I've had a three week wait so far for CT scan results and my consultant will only chase for them when he returns from annual leave on Monday.  Possibly another week or two wait by the time the results are in and my appointment is scheduled with the consultant.  All the while this mass could be growing and, if something sinister, spreading.  So scary.

I completely agree. I'm in a similar situation. I don't know on what planet a 6 week wait for results is considered acceptable. 

Hi telemando I would have thought there would be a lot more people on here by now I can't understand why not, 

Billy 

I waited a month between each test and biopsy. I don’t know if the appointments were set up that way to deal with the slowness of the labs or where I went were just slow anyway. Probably a combination of the two. 

Morning ...

There was a thread on here l read over the weekend .. a lady who had first test and given an urgent refural for more tests .. forget two weeks... forget one month ... or two months .. she got one for three months ... hang their heads in shame ... 

How to go about getting change ... l dont know ... but if anyone knows a way of getting telemando thread to someone who just may be able to do something ....

But it needs everyone who has this problem to stand up and put their story across too ... good people can make a change .. l know the two weeks may have a day or two delay ... but weeks / months must change ... Chrissie  x

Hi Chrissy. 

I think the first step is to establish the scale of the problem. I hope this can be done by a series of targeted Freedom Of Information requests sent to the appropriate NHS foundation trusts, etc, asking for summary statistics of how long it takes to turnaround different types of result and what are their service standards. This will require planning: first to identify the particular trusts, etc, to target with requests, and second to formulate the most appropriate wording for the request(s). 

At the same time, it will do no harm to gather more informal stats and horror stories on this thread, and maybe also find some volunteers who'd like to join in and help.

I am a complete novice at this, so I'm very much in the dark on the right way to do this sort of thing. 

Hi telemando. I am 9 month post radiotherapy for tonsil cancer so can feel qualified to answer a bit of your question. I too freaked out when put on the cancer pathway 14 May last year and was frustrated by the waiting. Hey I wanted to shout if you think I’ve got the big C do something about it ! Our daughter works in governance for n h s so I asked her what were the protocols her reply. Was as follows nhs guideline s laid down by government are  patients shoukdcstart treatment no later than 62 days from original referral date. lol and behold my radiotherapy started on 16 July .the nhs targets are met in 95 % of cases with the trusts who fail receiving hefty fines .totally agree if it was a politician they woukd be done n dusted in less time privately I feel sure. But us mere mortals have to play by the rules 

hope thus helps

hazel