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I feel so let down and worried.

Lorraine82
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I am feeling so let down by the NHS. 

On the 28th May I had an ultrasound scan which showed that I have a mass measuring 4.75cm in diameter. I was the referred for a CT scan which i had on the 7th june and found abnormalities on the left side of my uterus and also found a mass measuring 4.75cm in diameter had actually grown a further 2cm diameter and that there was solid characteristics within the mass. 

The gynea consultant advised that I would be seen as URGENT and would have MRI and colposcopy appointments within 4 weeks due to the urgency and severity of the mass. 

Unfortunately the appointments I received was mri for 26th July and the colposcopy appointment on the 24th August so this outside the guidelines by 7 weeks. 

Fortunately I have Bupa insurance through my employer so I have managed to get my appointment for next Thursday.

I've gone through a wave of emotions thus week, anger upset, thankful then back to anger.

How can the NHS do this to people when there is a risk to complications and worst case scenario cancer. What if I didn't have Bupa? I honestly feel awful for people who don't and that they have to wait. My anxiety is through the roof and I'm scared whilst trying to remain positive for my 2 boys and my husband.  

What is your experiences and waiting times for appointments and what are your symptoms?

My symptoms are extremely fatigue, severe abdominal pain , bloating (I look pregnant but I'm not), periods lasting 8 plus days when my normal is 1 day, blood clotting, diarrhoea and water infections.

I look forward to hearing from you. 

Lorraine xxx 

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    Hello Lorraine, 

    I am so sorry to hear you have had to go private as you would have had to wait so long to get a colposcopy appointment. I can understand why this has left you feeling this way and has exacerbated your anxiety. It is good though that you have managed to get an appointment for next Tuesday and I just wanted to say we are thinking of you in the coming days and I hope you get some clarity on this soon and some explanation as to what is causing all these symptoms. 

    Keeping everything crossed for you Lorraine that everything turns out fine. Do give us an update if you have a second when you find out more! 

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

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    Has your go felt the lump? 

    I'm surprised it's taken them so long for them to get you an ultrasound. 

    Although the hospital let me down my gp was very good. My ultrasound was 5 days after I had my bloods done and my first appointment with the gp. 

    I'm just so thankful that my consultant appointment is on Thursday albeit private. Hopefully my colposcopy appointment and mri scan of my pelvis is not long after.

    The 1st July will soon be here and hopefully you will get some answers xx

  • Offline in reply to Lorraine82

    Hi, I'm waiting for an pelvic ultrasound as I have raised CA125 and various symptoms that are fairly gastro related. I didn't even connect anything with my ovary, because alot of my issues I thought was more bowel related. Anyway, I was close to choosing private because the waiting time is horrendous, when you are in limbo and you don't know what's going on. If something shows on the scan and I have to wait loads, then I may have to look into other options. I can't afford it, but luckily I have a supportive family. I do really feel for people that don't have the support and the waiting time is over what it should be. I've been waiting on a colonoscopy for a while too, as they've written to me asking for another stool sample and more blood tests, I still don't have a date. It's all a waiting game. I really wish you all the best ladies, positive thoughts :)

  • Offline in reply to nica00

    I have had problems with my periods for roughly 12 months but though it was age related.  I actually went to my gp 8 weeks ago as I have ulcerative colitis and and was having a flare up and I was constantly getting water infections. My tummy was so distended that my gp asked about my periods. I explained that I was bleeding much heavier and much longer but also I was passing a lot of large blood clots and in a lot of pain with my tummy and lower back. The doctor took my bloods and arranged for a urgent ultrasound scan which I had on the 28th May and it showed that there was a mass on my right ovary measuring 4.75cm in diameter.  Unfortunately I took ill and I was admitted to hospital on the 29th May as I started bleeding from my bowel. I was treated for my colitis flare up and whilst in hospital I had a CT scan on 7th June. The CT scan revealed that the mass had grown a further 2cm diameter and that there was abnormalities on the left side of my uterus.  The gynea team explained that I was being referred for an urgent colposcopy and mri scan of my pelvis and thus would be within the 4 weeks guidelines.

    I am so thankful that my employer gives me Bupa insurance as I would have been able to have gone private myself. I really couldn't imaging having to wait and I really do feel for people who do not have the option to go private.  In this day and age when there is a risk to any cancer, this should become priority. 

    I must add that my bowel consultant is also arranging a colonoscopy. Do you have a bowel condition? Xx

  • Offline in reply to Lorraine82

    Yes, I completely agree. It's just such a long wait in most circumstances. That all sounds awful, how are feeling at the moment? The thing is for me, I haven't been diagnosied with a bowel condition, as nothing's really been done as of yet to check. I've started getting bowel type flair ups last november. I was starting to think, I had a stomach ulser or something, as the flair ups pretty much started when I'd had my wisdom tooth out, and I'd taken a lot of iboprofen for the pain. I went to the dr early last year about it all, as I'd had a couple more flair ups by this point. They'd tend to last a day, chronic indigestion, intense middle tummy pain and then it switched to the right hand side. I'd be sick with it, and couldn't eat and had bad constipation that was so hard to pass, and it made my tummy worse, but at the end of the flair up it would be yellow diarreah. I got tested for diabeties and celiac disease, and all came back normal. My last flair up there was inflammation there, as placelets were higher but now they're back to normal. I also have had blood in poo, a weeny bit on several occasions since last year so I really thought it was all bowel related or gastro relatied. Now I'mve got those CA125 raised results back, I'm in shock as I didn't link it to that. Are you still waiting for a colonoscopy date? I am still waiting, then I think my symtoms all started late last year, it's been half a year since then and I'm none the wiser. You're lucky you have health insurance, that's really good. I'm preying I won't have to get to that point.

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