Facial skin cancer
Posted , 4 users are following.
My hubby has been diagnosed with skin cancer on his face. He never sunbathes and always stays in the shade etc., but he has had cancer twice before in other locations (not skin cancer) so has been told he has a predisposition to the problem. He's been waiting for notification for surgery and he's now received an appointment which is ages away. There's already been a delay in getting it diagnosed as during an original appointment with our GP some time ago he was told it was 'nothing to worry about' but when he went again because it wasnt going away, now he's told it is cancer. I've been trying to contact the hospital to see if we can get the surgery moved forward or get a cancellation but they wont answer their phone and never return voicemails. Just wondering where we go next - who can we speak to, who will listen - this is so terrifying and nobody will speak to us about it. Is there a patient hotline or something we can approach just to get someone to give us some advice on how we can get him seen more urgently, given his cancer history.
0 likes, 6 replies
lesley73033 loxie
Posted
I think it really depends on what sort of cancer it is. Some don't grow quickly and very rarely spread to other areas.
mike09523 loxie
Posted
Hi,
Perhaps you could phone the Dermatology Clinic at your nearest hospital and see if they could arrange a private consultation. If treatment is recommended then you could go back to nhs.
It would mean paying for the consultation, but might put your minds at rest.
Mike.
lindathepinda mike09523
Posted
I agree, I was in the same situation and went to an independent clinic. The tumor was cut out in no time. After that I went back to the hospital to hear their diagnosis and the treatment proposition. Had to wait for 2 months for that although.
loxie mike09523
Posted
My hubby has had the initial consultation and the diagnosis at a very brief appointment at the dermatology/plastic surgery dept and was told he'd be referred for surgery "asap" but when we received the letter the appointment is several months ahead and we feel it should be treated far more urgently given his previous cancer history. Calling the clinic by phone is a waste of time, they dont answer the phone - EVER - and dont return voicemails. They arent available at the weekend (people obviously dont need medical attention on saturday or sunday!!!) so if we havent heard back from them by say Tuesday, I'm going to contact my local MP is who extremely helpful. Between us we each have nearly 50 years of NI contributions for non existent patient respect - hopeless.
loxie lindathepinda
Posted
I contacted our local Nuffield hospital who do this type of surgery - they quoted me nearly £3500 for the surgery, not including having to have an initial consultation at extra cost. Cant afford that. It's not worth us paying for a private consultation, we've had the consultation and the diagnosis, now he just needs the surgery.
lindathepinda loxie
Posted
That's just outrageous, 3500,- for such a surgery, it shouldn't cost more than a few hundred if it's done under local anaesthesia.
I think it's very peculiar for your regular hospital to not answer your calls, I definitely would contact your local MP since these aren't normal proceedings within the health care of a first world country.