‘Concerning’ cervical mass found in labour, 19 week wait

Hello, looking for advice as I'm just going out of my mind with worry. I gave birth in June and during labour examinations a doctor found what she described as a 'large mass' on my cervix. When she touched it I yelped in pain and I couldn't withstand the examinations. Another two doctors attempted to do examinations (look at my waters) but both said they couldn't due to the size and location of the mass. There were a handful of midwives also looking at it with torches saying they hadn't seen anything like that before. 
i can't quite describe the pain when they hit/touched the mass but I just know I was sobbing in pain and begged them to stop examining me. This was the third time I had given birth and all three were vaginally with no pain relief yet the pain from the examinations made me ask for epidural which I didn't end up having as they just listened to me and stopped checking cervix and let my labour progress 

Anyhow, on my discharge notes it was written and I was verbally told that an urgent referral to gynaecologist has been made. 3 weeks from then, nothing came through so I chased it up. After speaking to three different departments, I was told the referral had never been made and they can only apologise. I was told the only person who can deal with it is the consultant I had when I was pregnant, and I was transferred to her Secretary, no answer all day so I left a voicemail which was never returned. I decided a few days later I would ring PALS for advice. They put me straight through to the Secretary. Again she apologised as she too couldn’t see a referral but could see on my discharge notes that one should have been made. Said she will chase it up and get back to me in the next couple of days. 3 further weeks from that conversation and still nothing. Decided to discuss with my GP and she did another referral and advised I make a formal complaint. An appointment has finally come through for the end of October. This would be 19 weeks from when I gave birth and nobody has examined the mass since or even spoken to me about it. I feel this is far too long and I'm honestly so worried and it's constantly in the back of my head. 
 

is this a normal wait time? 

  • Hello! My experience isn't related to yours but I am sure that is not an acceptable wait time, given you were told the matter was urgent to begin with. Tell your GP that the appointment is too long away and that you need to be on the 'two week wait' pathway. She probably intended for you to go on that pathway but perhaps there was an error. If the GP isn't helpful, then go back to the consultant who originally found the lump. 
    Good luck. I hope you get answers soon. How needlessly stressful for you with a new baby too!  

  • I wouldn't say this is a normal time to wait - I would be expecting a two week wait max. Did your GP make a normal referral or urgent referral? You could ask for an urgent referral if that wasn't done. Hope you get seen to soon x

  • Thank you. My gp did an urgent one and I received a letter through the very next day about my appointment, but I was shocked to see it wasn't until the end of October. I'm hoping it's benign that's grown in pregnancy but with not knowing, it's constant niggle in my head. I've been having hip and lower back pain the past week with some small blood loss, expected my first post partum period but that's not arrived and now wondering if it could be related to this lump

  • Is there a number for the department on the letter that you could call and explain to them what's happened as they might be able to book you in sooner there and then? I know what it's like but try not to worry :) I just had a breast lump scare and everything turned out fine, my doctor said only 10% of lumps are actually anything serious! Let us know how you get on xx 

  • Thank you. I'm waiting for gp to get back to me as for the past 2 sags I've also had light bleeding, back ache has worsened and tingly heavy feeling in my legs and she's thinking it does need bringing forward and wants me seen within days so we will see where we get to. Glad all was ok with you x

  • How did you get on? I really hope your news was good and perhaps it was a prolapse given you mentioned you'd given birth previously. 
    I think nhs wait times even when urgent are taking a bit longer due to covid but 19 weeks is far too long.  hopefully you're all sorted now and had your referral abs good news x