The Christie

[Maggiemo19]

I have read many posts about some of you lovely ladies going to The Christie to get a second opinion. Is this private or nhs treatment?.

You all refer to a lovely professor. Could you type this professors initials or pm his name.

Many thanks and good wishes to you all xx

[Sunfleury-UK]

Link here to Ovacome's staff, trustees & board... Prof G J from The Christie is one of the medical advisers (So is Prof C F, whom many have seen for second opinion on possible radical surgery for recurrence)

ovacome.org.uk/people/

Theres a useful pinned post here on 'second opinions'

Sx

[Maggiemo19 in reply to Sunfleury-UK]

Thanks S x

[Purple-iris]

Hi

The Christie is an nhs hospital but they also have a private clinic and option .

You can have a second opinion on the nhs and ask to see Proff J or get a private appointment . His secretary is very efficient and will email you the information to request from your CNS.

I went for a private appointment ( don’t have insurance and it cost £250 and was well worth every penny )

As already suggested there are some saved posts re second opinions that you may find useful . If you want any other info don’t hestitate to pm me

Love and best wishes Kim x 💜

[TinaB1 in reply to Purple-iris]

Hi Kim ...

I was wondering if paying the £250 means that all future treatment at The Christie has to be private? The other thing is, I was wondering if this leaves the option of a NHS referral open for the future? I’m told that there is only one allowed. Xx

[Maggiemo19 in reply to Purple-iris]

Thanks for that question Tina x

[Maggiemo19 in reply to Purple-iris]

Thank you Kim x

[Alikay]

As Purple-iris did, I went to see Prof JG privately for a 2nd opinion at the cost of £250 simply to get a quicker appointment. I now have treatment as an NHS patient. If you want further info on the Prof, Google him - it will also give you a wealth of information on the Christie itself. You are welcome to PM me if you want any further information. Good luck with your 2nd opinion. Ali xx

[Maggiemo19 in reply to Alikay]

Thanks Ali xx

[Purple-iris]

Hi Tina

Not sure about the one second opinion only rule and how strict it is you might be best to check with the Ovacome helpline.

I do have a friend who is stage 4 , 5 th line of treatment who has the same team as me at Guys and she has had a second opinion from the Proff at Christie and been to Royal Marsden about trials as she lives in London . ( I’m going back with her to RM Tuesday to get more info about the trial . Not sure if finding trials that you are suitable for counts as obviously there will be some that you don’t meet all the criteria for . She saw the Proff as an nhs patient as had a quick appointment but was going to see him privately if not .

When I saw him as a private patient he said he would be happy to see me again at either his private or nhs clinic but as he advised the same treatment plan as I am on at Guys eg stop the avastin ( been on it a year ) I am still with Guys as have a fantastic team and am very happy there .

When / if I get a recurrence I would go back to the Christie as an nhs patient as they allow patients to stay as nhs but top up and pay for just the Avastin for recurrence which the nhs will not fund and Guys have said they can not do . if I wanted Avastin again at Guys I would have to transfer all my treatment including monitoring and scans etc to private which we could not afford as do not have insurance.

Think the Christie are more flexible and push the boundaries in terms of trying to get patients what they need despite the nhs protocols !

If you need anymore info don’t hestiate to pm me

Love and best wishes Kim x 💜

[TinaB1]

Thanks... That's so helpful... Xxxx

[Lily-Anne]

You can ask for an opinion from as many specialists as you like. Your GP surgery pays for each referral through the NHS so there’s a potential for them to limit it. However if you choose to pay then it’s your choices. You can then ask to be treated on the NHS

I went to see Prof F at Queen Charlotte and plan to see her again now things have changed

I’d recommend another take on your situation is invaluable

LA xx

[SarahsJourney]

Hi Maggie, I've just been to see Prof J at The Christie, for a second opinion. We are fortunate enough to have private healthcare so it paid on this occasion, and as has been mentioned above he told us if we wanted to move to him for treatment we could do so as both a private OR an NHS patient which was nice to know.

I've actually (finally) decided to stay put in London after much too-ing and fro-ing!! Thought he was wonderful and impressed by what I've heard about the hospital. In the end, for me, it was the thought of a 6 hour round trip whilst having treatment that just didn't appeal. Having said that I'm very pleased I went for a second opinion as it has given me the choice I was seeking and some breathing space.

We decided that if we needed to at some future point, we would pay privately to seek his opinion if it wasn't possible to fund via insurance.

Good Luck with whatever you decide xxx