My GP showed me the referral he made. It has all the information. But the hospital refuses to help saying inadequate information has been provided and they rejected the referral.I have back pain and retention problems. I also have other urinary symptoms.
I am really lost and don't know what to do. The GP has tried twice with no luck.
Sounds very strange. What was the PSA result and if you don't mind me asking, how old are you?
PSA 11 and I also have family history- my father had prostate cancer.
I'm 52
Wow, that makes no sense! I assume you're under the NHS? Can you get your GP to refer to a different hospital?
Did the hospital state what more information they needed? I had a DRE last April (hard prostate) and PSA test of 13. I was referred by my GP and got a phone call the very next day from the hospital urology dept with an appointment - and my father did not have PCa. If I were you, I'd call the hospital direct and ask what more info they could possibly need.
They just said there's no clinical information, and won't say anymore. But I've seen the referral and it does include the information, so I'm not sure what more can be done. The hospital simply said we need adequate clinical information!
I assume your insurance requires a referral. What does the hospital have to do with the referral? It should be a referral direct to a urologist.
I'm in the UK. So it's the NHS rejecting me.
I think Britain's guidelines for futher investigation will be found somewhere on the internet? In fact, what did your Docs say are the guidelines.....if they are using pSA, and I'd bet MUCHO they are, then something stinks!!!
Here is the patients' version.....
nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-...
Reading that, you qualify for further investigation..surely they tell the GP what else needs to be included in the referrral? Do you have a decent communication system with your Doc and NHS??
Well, the NHS is in a poor state right now, so like many other people, I've had issues getting the GP/secondary care to do anything. Even the DRE had to be requested over and over again as they were reluctant and suggested the PSA was the only test needed at one point. But at least the GP showed me the referral and actually talks to me about this. The NHS secondary care teams are much more difficult to communicate with. They don't even tell me anything beyond stating that not enough information was provided. They won't say anything further when I ask. Just keep repeating we didn't get enough information.
It seems the NHS is underfunded.....how could the nHS provide the same services as that in the uSA, when spending is approx 50% of what the USA spends on medical care??? What happens if you just show up at the appropriate office and demand help??????? are the British voters prepared to pay higher taxes for a better funded NHS??
I of course know litttle of NHS.....but it looks like this might be worth investigating were I in your shoes??? both NHS and private-pay patients.....click around and see if there might be help here. They have urology and imaging, and almost certainly could do MRI and biopsy for you I don't suppose you have any info re your prostate size or possibiity of infection.....both can increase PSA?
I wish I could go private. The primary care teams apparently cannot order an MRI. The request must come from secondary care, who keep rejecting the referral.
sorry I messed up..here is the link that interested me, and hopefully you.......
practiceplusgroup.com/nhs-p...
seems to give hope...not just for private pay...thhey claim all accepted....equally...I have no idea. evidently with NHS you do have choice of hospital/specialty group. I'd consider traveling if need be...don't know how convenient/inconvenient their locations are? IMHO worth a try. Early treatment is no guarantee, but now established does reduce deaths from PCa.
I would call your insurance company, explain the situation and ask what needs to be done.
Talk to your local MP and see if he is able to move things along. I had NHS issues when I was first diagnosed and sent my MP an e-mail and he did at least try and sort something out for me. You have sadly to manage the NHS as they can be slow in some instances, luckily I have a group of Macmillan nurses I can contact if I have issues.
My first referral to Urology by my GP was ignored but she was on the case and got me sorted eventually.
It is frustrating and a sad indictment of what has been happening to our beloved NHS under successive Governments.
Sorry to hear of your problems and issues. I am both a nurse and wife of a prostate cancer sufferer. We had some problems now 10 years ago, but fortunately investigated ourselves.
My advice would be for you to phone the Urology secretaries (i.e. secretaries of Consultant Urologists) at the hospital to which your GP referred. With your PSA and family history, then surely your GP referred you under the '2 week rule' (i.e. urgent referral for suspected cancer)? If your GP did not make such urgent referral then get him/her to do so.
Just insist upon talking to a Urolgist secretary and explain that your GP made referral - ask them to track your referral and ask the specific information which they are apparently requesting. If that fails, then make a formal complaint to the hospital (will be hospital Trust) about their refusal and failure to be specific - be sure to mention that such refusal to see you is probably endangering your life and may well result in seriously poor outcome to your health and wellbeing. A complaint should make them sit up and take notice as hospitals are judged and accountable for the number of complaints they receive.
In the meantime, have you phoned Prostate Cancer UK? They provide specialist help and advice from Nurse specialists, and can surely advise you. Tel: 0800 074 8383 (within UK).
Apologies for being long-winded, but be insistent - and don't take 'No' for an answer. Good luck.
Fatigue BEFORE treatment (A bit of a rant) 
bicalutamide [ casodex ] reaction with other medication 
Does anyone know anyone who has been cured of PC?
Antibiotics before Biopsy
