Have you ever had a cancer scare?

Paddy Cow

Out of six of my mother's siblings, four (including her) have died due to cancer so I'm really paranoid about it. Recently I've lost two stone. As a lot of ladies can relate, one of the first places you lose it from is your boobs. I found a lump a few Saturdays ago and of course I freaked out. Straight to the doctor Monday morning and she referred me for testing. She told me it could take six weeks to be seen and all I could think was that this was another six weeks for the cancer to spread.

I got a letter that Friday to be at the Breast Check clinic the following Thursday, so the wait was less than two weeks, which was great. I got to the clinic at 8.30 and was really impressed by how efficient they were. The HSE get a hard time (and deservedly so for the most part) but when it comes to cancer they don't mess around. I had an ultrasound, mammogram and biopsy and was out by 10.15. All the staff were really friendly and compassionate. I was told it was most likely a benign fibroadenoma and would have the results in a week. I went back this morning and yay it's benign

To say I'm over the moon would be an understatement. I had googled breast lumps and most of them turn out to be benign but it was a scary few weeks. Make sure to check yourselves

Deebles McBeebles

Congrats, P. Always great to hear the good news stories regarding cancer.

gerrybbadd

No.

However, there's a family history there, and with having a young family now myself, it's something that's playing on my mind a fair bit.

Good for you with getting the good news however!:o

branie2

No, thank God. I'm glad you're fine, though

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Yes, I had a skin melanoma skin cancer about four years ago. Surgery went well and all clear. It knocks the stuffing out of you when they say Cancer. I lost a brother to cancer when he was only 40.

weldoninhio

Paddy Cow wrote: »

Out of six of my mother's siblings, four (including her) have died due to cancer so I'm really paranoid about it. Recently I've lost two stone. As a lot of ladies can relate, one of the first places you lose it from is your boobs. I found a lump a few Saturdays ago and of course I freaked out. Straight to the doctor Monday morning and she referred me for testing. She told me it could take six weeks to be seen and all I could think was that this was another six weeks for the cancer to spread.

I got a letter that Friday to be at the Breast Check clinic the following Thursday, so the wait was less than two weeks, which was great. I got to the clinic at 8.30 and was really impressed by how efficient they were. The HSE get a hard time (and deservedly so for the most part) but when it comes to cancer they don't mess around. I had an ultrasound, mammogram and biopsy and was out by 10.15. All the staff were really friendly and compassionate. I was told it was most likely a benign fibroadenoma and would have the results in a week. I went back this morning and yay it's benign

To say I'm over the moon would be an understatement. I had googled breast lumps and most of them turn out to be benign but it was a scary few weeks. Make sure to check yourselves

My dad died just over a year ago, from cancer, about 3 months after that I found a lump on one of my balls. Was absolutely cacking it. Like you, went to doctor, got an appointment for a scan. Was 100% quick and staff were brilliant, they were able to tell me there and then that it was just a cyst. I never thought I would be happy to be told I had a cyst on my nuts, but I nearly danced out of Beaumont.

davo2001

Yeah, had a small lump on the side of my neck, got it biopsy in the hospital, said not cancer, since it was attached to my thyroid they gave me the option to remove the lump and half the thyroid (even though they said it wasn't cancer), doc said might be best to leave it.

I opted to have it removed anyways.

All done and dusted and happy out after the surgery, got a call from the doc 2 weeks later, they did a biopsy on the half they removed and said it turns out it was cancer after all (thyroid).

Thank **** I opted to have it removed, I'm only 34!

Got my 6 month check up recently and they said all is good however it still plays on my mind that they might have missed something again....

LirW

Yeah skin cancer. There's a long family history of it and I had a suspicious mole that bled a little. My dad, who has to get tissue removed every couple of months, was absolutely freaking out and offered to fly me back home to Austria to get it checked immediately (7 week wait in St. Vincent's).
Eventually it turned out to be nothing and I'm an idiot and was just scratching too much.

I don't know if an abnormal smear counts, but I had a Lletz treatment last year and I can tell you this was up there on the list of sh*t procedures.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

Yes. I’d had an inverted nipple for months so went to a GP but was told in a very scoffing way that it was nothing and I was far too young for it to be cancer. I happily skipped off into the sunset that evening because that’s exactly what I wanted to hear.

2.5 years and much pain and a cracked rib and many GP visits later, a terminal breast cancer diagnosis came my way. At that first GP visit where I was hand-waved away, I had a symptom that is on the urgent list as in, I should have been sent to the very next breast clinic at my local hospital. But the HSE is very reluctant to send anyone under 35 to the clinics, even with an indicative symptom. I was 28 at the time of the first visit.

Thanks, HSE, for deeming my life not important enough to save. :rolleyes:

Sorry to stomp all over your OP, OP. But I had a very different experience. All I found was indifference and negligence. And I’ve since learned that my experience isn’t unusual. I have a few acquaintances who went through the same thing. Some luckily were still early stage but some, like me, were metastatic by the time they were diagnosed.

And as for self-examination, I did! I did self-examine. I noticed something wasn’t right and it still did me no good.

Paddy Cow

LirW wrote: »

Yeah skin cancer. There's a long family history of it and I had a suspicious mole that bled a little. My dad, who has to get tissue removed every couple of months, was absolutely freaking out and offered to fly me back home to Austria to get it checked immediately (7 week wait in St. Vincent's).
Eventually it turned out to be nothing and I'm an idiot and was just scratching too much.

I don't know if an abnormal smear counts, but I had a Lletz treatment last year and I can tell you this was up there on the list of sh*t procedures.

Given the state's history on smear tests, that would have me freaking out.

Paddy Cow

davo2001 wrote: »

Yeah, had a small lump on the side of my neck, got it biopsy in the hospital, said not cancer, since it was attached to my thyroid they gave me the option to remove the lump and half the thyroid (even though they said it wasn't cancer), doc said might be best to leave it.

I opted to have it removed anyways.

All done and dusted and happy out after the surgery, got a call from the doc 2 weeks later, they did a biopsy on the half they removed and said it turns out it was cancer after all (thyroid).

Thank **** I opted to have it removed, I'm only 34!

Got my 6 month check up recently and they said all is good however it still plays on my mind that they might have missed something again....

That is very scary :eek:

RacoonQueen

I had a tumour removed from my lung when I was 23. Luckily I got away with just surgery and didn't lose any of my precious lung, as we first feared I would.
The care I got and continue to get from the public health system is phenomenal. Years later I am still a 'patient' and still get check ups. Was 4 months from confirming something was wrong > finding out what it was > figuring out a plan > surgery, which I think is pretty impressive time wise.

LirW

Paddy Cow wrote: »

Given the state's history on smear tests, that would have me freaking out.

Funnily enough they send the removed tissue off for analysis and I had to wait 4 months for a result and shortly after had my check-up smear which took 6 months to come back.

Limpy

Did all of you who had scares feel different or was it just the result of something you could see on your body?

I Don't have any issues but I fully expect to, what's the odds 1 in 3? . Just want to be prepared.

retro:electro

I’m currently waiting on my appointment with breast check due to finding a lump also but my GP has assured me it’s nothing to worry about and is likely a cyst. I’m being referred due to family history, but I could be waiting 6-8 weeks for an appointment. It’s worth knowing that 9 out of 10 referrals are benign so I’m comforted by that. Still doesn’t stop your mind racing though.

Paddy Cow

Limpy wrote: »

Did all of you who had scares feel different or was it just the result of something you could see on your body?

I Don't have any issues but I fully expect to, what's the odds 1 in 3? . Just want to be prepared.

I didn't feel any different and probably wouldn't have felt the lump if I hadn't lost weight but once I knew there was a lump there I started freaking out mentally. Thankfully we know how my story ends.

With my mother she lost an awful lot of weight and everyone was telling her to get checked. She put it down to other things and didn't go to the doctor until she was getting dizzy. By the time she went, she had advanced kidney cancer. They took out her kidney but unfortunately at her six month check up, it had spread.

Because of my family history, I am VERY aware of any changes in my body and will get them checked out. Too many people ignore the signs and don't want to "bother" the doctor but you're better to be safe than sorry.

gerrybbadd

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts wrote: »

Yes. I’d had an inverted nipple for months so went to a GP but was told in a very scoffing way that it was nothing and I was far too young for it to be cancer. I happily skipped off into the sunset that evening because that’s exactly what I wanted to hear.

2.5 years and much pain and a cracked rib and many GP visits later, a terminal breast cancer diagnosis came my way. At that first GP visit where I was hand-waved away, I had a symptom that is on the urgent list as in, I should have been sent to the very next breast clinic at my local hospital. But the HSE is very reluctant to send anyone under 35 to the clinics, even with an indicative symptom. I was 28 at the time of the first visit.

Thanks, HSE, for deeming my life not important enough to save. :rolleyes:

Sorry to stomp all over your OP, OP. But I had a very different experience. All I found was indifference and negligence. And I’ve since learned that my experience isn’t unusual. I have a few acquaintances who went through the same thing. Some luckily were still early stage but some, like me, were metastatic by the time they were diagnosed.

And as for self-examination, I did! I did self-examine. I noticed something wasn’t right and it still did me no good.

Please tell me you've sought legal advice.

This is horrifying, so sorry to hear your story

cocker5

Haven't had a scare myself personally BUT have plenty of experience with very close family members...

My Mother and Father in law were diagnosed same day, different hospital, different cancers My mum passed away 18 weeks later after horrendous suffering (thankfully we kept her at home) and my father in law 18 months later...

nearly 7 f*cking years later and i'm in the process of losing my beloved dog to liver cancer ... again terrible suffering.... so in all honesty im like f*ck you cancer I've had enough... if it is ever my turn... dignitas here I come

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

gerrybbadd wrote: »

Please tell me you've sought legal advice.

This is horrifying, so sorry to hear your story

I thought about it but didn’t pursue it. A woman I know recently lost a similar case and she was considered likely to win. It’s incredibly difficult to win these cases. The medical community in Ireland sticks together and all it takes is one doctor to give the opinion that the cancer had probably already spread at the first GP visit for it all fall apart. You basically have to prove that the cancer hadn’t spread at the time you were first fobbed off and that is really hard to do.

I decided not to waste my very reduced energy on it.

Paddy Cow

retro:electro wrote: »

I’m currently waiting on my appointment with breast check due to finding a lump also but my GP has assured me it’s nothing to worry about and is likely a cyst. I’m being referred due to family history, but I could be waiting 6-8 weeks for an appointment. It’s worth knowing that 9 out of 10 referrals are benign so I’m comforted by that. Still doesn’t stop your mind racing though.

I was told the same waiting time by the GP but I got an appointment within two weeks. My situation is different to yours in that while there's a family history of cancer, breast caner is not one of those. If breast cancer is in your family, you will be given priority.

Like you said, while you know that statistically you are probably going to be fine, you can't stop yourself from going to the worst scenario mentally. I honestly have no advice for this. I didn't tell my siblings because I knew some of them couldn't handle it and I couldn't be their emotional support. A friend of mine's sister had the same thing and she told everyone. When the results came back benign, they had a family dinner to celebrate.

There really is no right or wrong. If you want to keep it to yourself, do. If telling your family helps you, to that. The important thing to remember here is that you have to do what's best for you.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

retro:electro wrote: »

I’m currently waiting on my appointment with breast check due to finding a lump also but my GP has assured me it’s nothing to worry about and is likely a cyst. I’m being referred due to family history, but I could be waiting 6-8 weeks for an appointment. It’s worth knowing that 9 out of 10 referrals are benign so I’m comforted by that. Still doesn’t stop your mind racing though.

Make sure it happens within that 6-8 week window. Don’t be afraid to be pushy.

Another crazy thing about my case. I have a family history that I told them about.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

Paddy Cow wrote: »

I was told the same waiting time by the GP but I got an appointment within two weeks. My situation is different to yours in that while there's a family history of cancer, breast caner is not one of those. If breast cancer is in your family, you will be given priority.

Like you said, while you know that statistically you are probably going to be fine, you can't stop yourself from going to the worst scenario mentally. I honestly have no advice for this. I didn't tell my siblings because I knew some of them couldn't handle it and I couldn't be their emotional support. A friend of mine's sister had the same thing and she told everyone. When the results came back benign, they had a family dinner to celebrate.

There really is no right or wrong. If you want to keep it to yourself, do. If telling your family helps you, to that. The important thing to remember here is that you have to do what's best for you.

Nope. I have a family history and told the GP that and was still fobbed off. I’m sorry, I really just need to refute this stuff because I don’t want what happened to me to happen to anyone else. Complacency can happen in healthcare just like anywhere else.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

Here’s a young Irish vlogger on how hard it was for her to be taken seriously and to get her cancer diagnosis. It’s an anger-inducing listen at times. Luckily I think she was still early stage at diagnosis. But I identify so much with it. I just want to say to people to not put all your trust in healthcare professionals if you really feel that something isn’t right. They are human and can err and when it comes to health, that can mean the difference between life and death. For me, that’s probably the case.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsIjtbeQEas

One eyed Jack

Had one a couple of years back, they did a biopsy and it came back negative, but they told me come back again in five years time. To be honest I’d rather not, and I haven’t done.

I’ve just read this -


Readers blog: 'I've started so I'll finish' - Terminal cancer patient on his determination to see change in time he has left


And it does make me think alright, but at the same time I’d still rather just not know and not have to think about it.

decky1

yes , had Leukaemia IN 2010,[febuary] spent a year in St James and got a bone marrow transplant [july] will never be able to thank enough the team there, i owe them and my donor my life,it is a great shock when your told you hear of so many people getting it but you never think it will happen to yourself. Fully recovered now[one of the lucky one's] Great to hear you came out ok too, best wishes for the future.

weldoninhio

Limpy wrote: »

Did all of you who had scares feel different or was it just the result of something you could see on your body?

I Don't have any issues but I fully expect to, what's the odds 1 in 3? . Just want to be prepared.

I just felt the lump when I was in the showrr

I injured a nerve a few years ago and during an investigation recently a tumor was found at the site of the injury. I had surgery to remove it and thankfully it was benign. A beautiful word. The recovery has been tricky and I've had a great deal of physio, but whenever it really gets to me I just say that word again. It could have been much worse.

retro:electro

retro:electro wrote: »

I’m currently waiting on my appointment with breast check due to finding a lump also but my GP has assured me it’s nothing to worry about and is likely a cyst. I’m being referred due to family history, but I could be waiting 6-8 weeks for an appointment. It’s worth knowing that 9 out of 10 referrals are benign so I’m comforted by that. Still doesn’t stop your mind racing though.

The stress involved in waiting for that kind of thing is awful. Take care of yourself between now and then, though it's very hard as you say. Xx

McCrack

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts wrote: »

I thought about it but didn’t pursue it. A woman I know recently lost a similar case and she was considered likely to win. It’s incredibly difficult to win these cases. The medical community in Ireland sticks together and all it takes is one doctor to give the opinion that the cancer had probably already spread at the first GP visit for it all fall apart. You basically have to prove that the cancer hadn’t spread at the time you were first fobbed off and that is really hard to do.

I decided not to waste my very reduced energy on it.

Even for peace of mind consider getting an independent liability and causation report from a UK consultant who will examine your medical records including scans and give an opinion.. To get that you need to consult with a solicitor specialising in medical negligence... And watch the statute of limitations

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

McCrack wrote: »

Even for peace of mind consider getting an independent liability and causation report from a UK consultant who will examine your medical records including scans and give an opinion.. To get that you need to consult with a solicitor specialising in medical negligence... And watch the statute of limitations

All the scans will show cancer! That’s when my diagnosis happened. It was getting to the point of even being scanned that was tortuous.

I don’t really see the point in getting the above. The only reason I’d do it is if I could get a small settlement to support my husband when I’m gone.

Paddy Cow

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts wrote: »

Nope. I have a family history and told the GP that and was still fobbed off. I’m sorry, I really just need to refute this stuff because I don’t want what happened to me to happen to anyone else. Complacency can happen in healthcare just like anywhere else.

I'm sorry about your personal experience but it was very different to mine. Like I said in my op, cancer runs in my family and is why I was so freaked out. From my GP to the specialists I saw in the breast clinic, all of them wanted to know if I had a history of breast cancer and they took all my medical history seriously.

Complacency does happen in healthcare and in this day and age if any GP doesn't take a history of breast cancer seriously, then they need to be struck off.

Wibbs

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts wrote: »

Here’s a young Irish vlogger on how hard it was for her to be taken seriously and to get her cancer diagnosis. It’s an anger-inducing listen at times. Luckily I think she was still early stage at diagnosis. But I identify so much with it. I just want to say to people to not put all your trust in healthcare professionals if you really feel that something isn’t right. They are human and can err and when it comes to health, that can mean the difference between life and death. For me, that’s probably the case.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsIjtbeQEas

Jesus.

Now bad news travels faster than good and many people, if not most(?) are spotted in time and get good medical treatment, but in my family extended and close and my circle of friends I've directly experienced similar stories to yours and that woman's. Not just with cancer either. In one case with a family member who was presenting with the A to Z list of symptoms for a heart attack being fobbed off until I refused to let it go and kept insisting on a second opinion(to the point of veiled threats of security being called). Just by chance one doc overheard and had another look and sure enough he called it for what it was(and was openly critical of the others there, which I have found is unusual). I could fill a few paragraphs of similar close calls within close family and friends.

And these were all private patients too BTW. Now A+E is equal on that score and in my experience and I've had a fair bit A+E were bloody good, at least after 999 and an ambulance trip where people get triaged quickly. If it's kicking off with your GP and then your into the public versus private system that can show a real difference in care. I would say christ knows what might have been the outcomes with the folks I've known if they had been going through the public system. Certainly with cancer and the diagnosis stage. From what I've gathered over the years once you are diagnosed the treatment is about the same regardless, but getting diagnosed can be a lot slower in the public system.

I would say this though, we really don't need to import a more American based health service and I'd bet the insurance industry would love that.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

Paddy Cow wrote: »

I'm sorry about your personal experience but it was very different to mine. Like I said in my op, cancer runs in my family and is why I was so freaked out. From my GP to the specialists I saw in the breast clinic, all of them wanted to know if I had a history of breast cancer and they took all my medical history seriously.

Complacency does happen in healthcare and in this day and age if any GP doesn't take a history of breast cancer seriously, then they need to be struck off.

I know, I agree. But they won’t be unfortunately.

There’s one doctor in particular I encountered that I believe should not be practicing medicine. I saw her about two months before diagnosis. My nipple was bleeding and I’d had a cut there for months that just wouldn’t heal. I showed her that. I had severe pain in my spine and ribs and I couldn’t walk across the room without being dangerously out of breath. She said I had an infection and prescribed antibiotics. I asked her to refer me for scans. She wouldn’t and said I’d be well down the list in public hospitals. I’d said I’d go private then and she discouraged me because I had no insurance, saying the costs would mount. This appointment came after about two months of escalating symptoms. Every day I woke up, I was worse. But she was unconcerned.

I’d had about two visits to A&E around that time too where nobody thought to scan me. The only thing I got was an X-ray which showed that my spine was misshapen but I was just sent home with a prescription for gabapentin.

It was an awful time in my life where not only was my body falling apart but my mind was too because nobody would take me seriously. You know things are bad when you look at your balcony and think “I could just jump off and this will all be over”. I quickly told myself to cop on but even having that thought was disturbing.

It was actually another doctor in the same practice as Dr. Incompetent above who finally actually gave a shit. He didn’t know what was wrong but he knew something was badly wrong. My bloodwork showed high levels of inflammation. He repeated the bloodwork which gave the same result. He rang me at home to say “I’m really worried”. I was so glad that somebody was finally listening. And that’s what finally got me in for a scan of my lungs which revealed all. The pulmonary specialist asked me why I hadn’t told him about my boob. I told him that I stopped telling doctors about it because none of them thought it was a problem.

During this whole saga, I came face to face with many doctors. It wasn’t an isolated incident. It was a smorgasbord of incompetence.

It also showed how in tune with our own bodies we can be and trust that more. I said two things pre-diagnosis that turned out to be exactly right: “The pain feels like it’s in my bone.” and “I feel like my back is going to break”. I had cancer in my bones that was weakening them so I was correct on both counts.

Once I was diagnosed, pain wasn’t an issue anymore so the delayed diagnosis subjected me to a lot of needless pain.

retro:electro

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts, I’m absolutely fuming for you reading that. And gutted for you. Shocking incompetence on so many levels. Christ.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

retro:electro wrote: »

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts, I’m absolutely fuming for you reading that. And gutted for you. Shocking incompetence on so many levels. Christ.

I’m always almost disbelieving myself when retelling the whole story. It really is unbelievable but it happened to me!

I remember that very first GP visit, I hummed and hawed about whether to pay €50 to go to the Well Woman Centre or to a medical card practice (I had a few months left on my medical card). I went for the latter which is probably the single biggest mistake of my life. The doctor didn’t even do a quick physical exam!

Last year in March I suffered a strangulated parastomal hernia for which I had emergency surgery at Vincents hospital, and was discharged and recovering. Some years before I underwent a colectomy and ileostomy procedure in the Beacon for ulcerative colitis, and that was curative and I was getting in well until suffering that rare post-op complication of strangulated hernia. Anyway a letter from Vincent’s arrived in the post with an appointment to see a lung specialist in outpatients. I had zero lung symptoms, so was a bit surprised.

At the outpatients everyone was looking at me very sympathetically, and the doctor spent over half an hour examining me and questioning me. She said that CT Scan I had undergone at time of recent emergency hernia surgery showed a distinct dense lesion on right diaphragmatic pleura and that my chest would need cutting open in a major operation to remove it and test for mesothelioma and this would need to be done promptly. I was at the early lung cancer clinic, by myself, and so shocked I was actually numb and speechless.

Then she suggested that perhaps this lesion was visible previously and could be accounted for by a benign process, but I would have to get that scan very quickly as there was no time to be wasted. I’ll never forget that drive from Vincent’s to Beacon. It turned out the lesion was scarring from an old colitis-related abscess which had formed under diaphragm and noted during colectomy surgery.

That is why an online comprehensive personal medical record, owned by patient, would be so desirable and would allow doctors to rule all this stuff out without worrying patient.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

So glad it wasn’t mesothelioma! :eek: ^^^^

I agree about the records. There is often very little communication between doctors and departments.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts wrote: »

I’m always almost disbelieving myself when retelling the whole story. It really is unbelievable but it happened to me!

I remember that very first GP visit, I hummed and hawed about whether to pay €50 to go to the Well Woman Centre or to a medical card practice (I had a few months left on my medical card). I went for the latter which is probably the single biggest mistake of my life. The doctor didn’t even do a quick physical exam!

This is absolutely appalling and disgusting, but I can very well believe about such incompetence. Such doctors are bored/burnt-out and probably went on for medicine because they got the points or snobbery or a parent was a doctor.

metaoblivia

It seems like nothing compared to some of the (absolutely shocking) stories on here, but when I was 26 a clinic doctor found a small tumor in my breast. It was fairly deep within my breast tissue and this might be TMI, I'm 38 soon and my breast tissue is very firm & dense and back then it was even more so. Despite this, I had to go in and pay for a mammogram anyway, even though the doctor knew and told me that the mammogram would not be able to see through the dense tissue, and I would have to wait for the results, come back and pay for an MRI scan so that they could actually see what was going on (and this is a direct result of the American insurance system). So I did the mammogram, getting my poor, dense boobs squished was terrible, and the images were useless, as predicted so I was off to the MRI scan.

The doctors had me go in for surgery even though the tumor was small and didn't look or feel like cancer, the MRI showed it had a blood flow. So they removed it, and a week later I got news that it was benign. I still enjoy showing intimate partners my frankenboob (which they don't notice until I point it out - the surgeon did an excellent job of camouflaging the scar along the nipple edge).

Rubberlegs

I'm glad to hear you are OK Paddy Cow:). Cancer terrifies me as I lost my Dad to mesothelioma from asbestos exposure working on the buildings in London from the 60s to 1980. My mother said he would come home destroyed with dust and I would be up in his arms as soon as he got home in the evenings. More than a few times I have wondered did I inhale it off of his work clothes and will I get it too in years to come.
My mother herself had breast cancer 20 odd years ago that unfortunately returned in her bones a couple of years back. She is doing well now but has been very sick and has completely lost her life as she knew it and is very frail.
I am religious about breast checks, smear tests and putting on suncream. However I convinced myself I had skin cancer a while ago as I had an itchy patch on my nose, kept it to myself and worried myself sick. Thankfully it went away but I wasnt the better of it. I'd have cracked up completely in your shoes Paddy Cow. I think I almost expect to get it at some stage when both parents suffered from it. But as much as I dread the thoughts of getting cancer I think I'd rather have it myself than watch another loved one suffering from it.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

Deleted User wrote: »

This is absolutely appalling and disgusting, but I can very well believe about such incompetence. Such doctors are bored/burnt-out and probably went on for medicine because they got the points or snobbery or a parent was a doctor.

Ding ding ding!

Yup. There are great doctors. But it’s also a status job and that’s going to attract a cohort who aren’t suited to it at all.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts wrote: »

So glad it wasn’t mesothelioma! :eek: ^^^^

I agree about the records. There is often very little communication between doctors and departments.

I always get a great kick out of verbally giving my medical history to medical staff as all my past complaints have very convoluted names. So I spout off...

“Past history of
Ulcerative Colitis
Pyoderma Gangrenosum
Enteropathic Arthropathy
Panproctocolectomy with End Ileostomy;
Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy
Episodic Atrial Fibrillation..

And now I’ve added-
...Benign process visible on CT Scan on right diaphragmatic pleura”

Much of this stuff is rare enough and pretty new to the medics and I get a great laugh out of seeing them desperately googling it all. None of it deadly. I’ve had many medical students sent my way!

RacoonQueen

Deleted User wrote: »

That is why an online comprehensive personal medical record, owned by patient, would be so desirable and would allow doctors to rule all this stuff out without worrying patient.

There is! I'm not sure how widespread its use is, possibly used by GPs and public hospitals so information from the Beacon probably not in it.
https://www.healthlink.ie/

RacoonQueen

RacoonQueen wrote: »

There is! I'm not sure how widespread its use is, possibly used by GPs and public hospitals so information from the Beacon probably not in it.
https://www.healthlink.ie/

I keep my own medical record on my iPhone (& iCloud) accessible to anyone in an emergency, so when I am overseas medical people could access it should I become unconscious or incoherent.

Paddy Cow

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts wrote: »

I asked her to refer me for scans. She wouldn’t and said I’d be well down the list in public hospitals.

Jesus Christ Jeepers Creepers that is awful. I am a medical card holder and I was never treated like an inferior person. Fcuk me. I'm really naive. I didn't think people were treated like that, especially when it comes to cancer. This thread has been an eye opener.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

Paddy Cow wrote: »

Jesus Christ Jeepers Creepers that is awful. I am a medical card holder and I was never treated like an inferior person. Fcuk me. I'm really naive. I didn't think people were treated like that, especially when it comes to cancer. This thread has been an eye opener.

It was just so bizarre. I could barely breathe and was in agony (pain level probably 8/10) and had a bloody nipple that wouldn’t heal and had been that way for months and she was just like “Whatevs! Here’s some antibiotics. Sure, what would you be wanting scans for?” when I should have been packed off to A&E straight away. Like, I was literally dying in front of her.

Graces7

Deleted User wrote: »

I always get a great kick out of verbally giving my medical history to medical staff as all my past complaints have very convoluted names. So I spout off...

“Past history of
Ulcerative Colitis
Pyoderma Gangrenosum
Enteropathic Arthropathy
Panproctocolectomy with End Ileostomy;
Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy
Episodic Atrial Fibrillation..

And now I’ve added-
...Benign process visible on CT Scan on right diaphragmatic pleura”

Much of this stuff is rare enough and pretty new to the medics and I get a great laugh out of seeing them desperately googling it all. None of it deadly. I’ve had many medical students sent my way!

Try telling a GP you have M.E! One sneered and asked if I knew what it stood for...I reeled it off.. she was the anaesthetist as I was being prepped for emergency surgery. another one kind of blinked, then five minutes later " Oh you mean Chronic Fatigue."

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

Paddy Cow, sorry for bringing doom and gloom to your thread. I’m delighted that your experience was a much more positive one, both in how you were treated and the result. Happy days!

Paddy Cow

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts wrote: »

Paddy Cow, sorry for bringing doom and gloom to your thread. I’m delighted that your experience was a much more positive one, both in how you were treated and the result. Happy days!

You haven't brought doom and gloom here ODB. I was on a high from my results this morning and compared to your experience, my op almost feels like bragging. I was naive in thinking that everyone would be taken seriously and reading about your experience is like getting hit with a massive reality stick and it's given me serious thought concussion. I just can't get my mind around how you were treated. There is no excuse for that.

r93kaey5p2izun

Yes. Two in the past year. I had some abnormalities around my nipple and some pain, there's a history of breast cancer in the family, so I was referred to the public breast clinic. I waited from September to April to be seen. I felt my symptoms were totally dismissed by the clinic and they didn't listen to me. I was happy with my GP though and he was shocked at the waiting time. I was sent for a mammogram with a wait of a further 5 weeks and results were normal. I will investigate private breast screening options for the future as the delays and lack of communication was unacceptable.

In late December my endocrinologist decided she thought my thyroid was abnormal and enlarged and could be cancer. I had a scan in early January which found it was just destroyed with inflammation. This was all dealt with much quicker and communication was much better - this was private. The radiologist did tell me it was visibly enlarged on a year old chest xray taken in A&E for a different reason, and should have been followed up at that time. But nobody said anything to me about it and my gp received no info either.

holliehobbie

3 years ago I had a large haemorrhage due to Warfarin therapy. After I was stabilised and had two units of blood I had surgery at 9 o'clock at night. The following morning the surgeon came round and told me everything he touched was bleeding! He took out my ovaries, tubes and womb, neck of the cervix and as I discovered from reading my pathology report some enlarged lymph nodes, a large ovarian cyst and a large fibroid. Thankfully everything was benign. Then nearly a year to the day later I had more surgery to remove parathyroid glands. Ended up minus 2 parathyroid glands, half my thyroid (large goitre and a large nodule on it) and my thymus and a few more lymph nodes. Thankfully all benign again.