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Is going private worth it for treatment of early stage node positive breast cancer?

Christine101
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Hi I've been diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. I had lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy 10 days ago but my consultant has confirmed the tumour.our was bigger than they thought, there is another area of the same type of cancer which I need a further shave envision of in 10 days and that it is in one lymph node. This was all a surprise to my Consultant.  She says I will need more aggressive radiotherapy because of these findings. My question is this, my brother has offered to pay from hereon in and it is well within his means. However I have worked in the NHS  for 35 years and am not so sure going private means better treatment. I wondered anyone's thoughts?

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    Firstly, I'm so sorry they discovered more cancer. That must have been an awful shock.

    It's generally the same surgeons working in the private hospitals. If your surgery is in 10 days it won't speed it up. Private hospitals might be more comfortable but I don't think it is 1000s of pounds more comfortable. If it was a test or a biopsy you were trying to speed up I'd say go private but for a surgery that's already booked I don't think it will expedite things or that you'll get a better surgeon. I phoned a private hospital for my partner and the doctor's secretary there said as much.

    How did you find the after care in the hospital with your previous surgery? Were they good with pain relief etc? I've never had surgery in a private hospital so I do wonder if this is where there might be improvement. Maybe there's someone on the forum who has had private care who can tell you how it went.

    Good luck with your surgery and radiotherapy.

  • Offline in reply to Lyns21

    Thank you for swift reply. My thoughts exactly. I've spoken to a head and neck cancer consultant colleague who is of the same opinion. The NHS is set up for complex treatment more so than the private sector.  Thank you again for replying. 

  • Offline in reply to Christine101

    Hi Christine,

    This is always a difficult question and you may well receive different answers.  I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer and went down the NHS route for treatment in both cases. I did have some problems with my first surgeon and was in the process of transferring to a private surgeon. It transpired that this private surgeon was in charge of all the NHS surgeons in the area and I was eventually referred to him for a second opinion. He very kindly agreed to take me under his wing, within the NHS and treated me for my second bout. That was all 14 years ago now and, thanks to him and his team, I still lead a busy and fulfilling life.

    Lyns has summarised this all very well and I agree with what she said.

    I hope that all goes well for you. Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

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