I was diagnosed very late back in 2013 - as were an awful lot of people because the referral guidelines at the time weren't strict enough. Since then the NICE guidance to GPs is to refer down the suspected upper GI cancer diagnostic pathway if the symptoms indicate a likelihood of cancer over 3%. Logically this means that up to 97% of fast-tracked patients won't be diagnosed with cancer.
Obviously this causes an awful lot of worry but it is better than waiting well over six months for a diagnosis which happened to me because my GP thought I was too young, didn't smoke, hadn't lost weight, had an average BMI and didn't drink excessively.
I am in no way a medical expert but perhaps I could offer you some advice and try and put your mind at ease - even though I’m sure this is a very stressful time for you.
On a personal level, I know many people who have been fastracked for tests etc for certain cancers ( gastric and so on ) , lupus and other conditions. Every single one them were not diagnosed with the conditions they were fastracked for, and otherwise their symptoms have lessened or the doctors are still befuddled over what they have, meaning that, hopefully, you do not have cancer and that this is all just a necessary precaution by the docs.
I have a close family member who is currently fighting oesophageal cancer, who was actually diagnosed just yesterday, and the way that he’s been beforehand I wouldn’t wish on anyone (fatigued, lost huge amounts of weight etc). So really, it’s the way you feel inside that matters, not the doctors using scary words like “fast-tracked”. Telling by your surprise at the process that they’re going through with you, you perhaps weren’t experiencing hugely adverse symptoms beforehand, so, fingers crossed, this is just a scare for you, and you can get back to everyday life ASAP.
Wishing you the best of luck and sending you massive support on behalf of the forum!
