Hi Ems,

No, this isn't normal but it is not unusual. 

I was also initially sent down the suspected ulcer route (to be fair, I thought I had an ulcer too). Once I'd had an endoscopy and biopsies, it was a week before my CT scan, a week waiting to see my oncologist and I started chemo the following week. 

Don't hesitate to ask what's going on and why things are being delayed.

Good luck

Dave

Hi Ems4

Your dads situation sadly is all too common, take away the 6 week wait imposed by his GPs incompetence and he has still been waiting 10 weeks. We are constantly told that speedier diagnosis is the key to improving the outcomes for cancer patients. Its no use being diagnosed in a week if you then have to wait 3 months for your first treatment, its supposed to be 60 days but apparently the trusts are being allowed to let these targets slip in order to balance their books. I have found myself in the same situation as your dad because of excessive delays in starting treatment. Although I cannot fault the care I received once treatment did start. I can only suggest that you help your dad by keeping up communication with the hospital, reminding them of his excessive waiting time, offer to take any cancelled appointments at short notice etc. Wishing you both well in this difficult time. Kim

Hi Ems,

I don't mind you asking at all. To see my story, click on my username to the left of this post.

My diagnosis was made in 2013 at Stage 4, which was a bit of a shock. My treatment started about three weeks after the endoscopy during which my primary cancer was discovered. 

There is a bit of a postcode lottery, but there can also be a hiatus if the cancer team isn't absolutely sure of the diagnosis and hence the treatment. I was relatively lucky in that my primary was obvious and my clinical pathway well established.

Your Dad's reaction is to be expected, it would be worth phoning his oncologist's or surgeon's medical secretary to explain the situation, fears and concerns. Just ring the hospital switchboard and ask to be put through to Dr X's medical secretary. Then ask when you should expect treatment to start. The Med Sec's role is often under-estimated, they manage the consultant's diary and often prioritise messages to them too. If you aren't happy with the answer, politely complain to them and threaten to raise a formal complaint.

As Kim says, the maximum time to wait is 60 days from diagnosis to treatment but since 2010 (when targets were eased and budgets tightened for political reasons) more and more Trusts have been failing to hit the minimum standards. 

Good luck

Dave