Appointments

[Granny333]

Would you believe this! My onc wants me to see Urologist and I called and can’t get in until April. Same goes for heart doctor and digestive specialist. What is wrong with this picture!!

[Kerryd22]

You are fortunate to be able to get a cardiology appointment 😯

My oncologist said that it’s very hard to get other specialists to look at stage four cancer patients. They apparently think you’re going to die anyway so no rush to see you and if they’re busy they don’t worry too much.

I required a gall bladder review and I was seen very quickly but she still had to emphasise that I was stable and once he saw the scan, I was scheduled for an appointment the next day and I was operated on the next week. He was certain my pain was cancer related but the scan was showing a very inflamed gall bladder verging on bursting. They had to enlarge the key holes to get the gall bladder out. It did resolve my pain.

I was referred for a kidney specialist but although I did get an appointment it took several months and I didn’t get past the nurse. She refused to recommend me for an appointment with the doctor. She told me to reduce my weight and my cholesterol, drink more water and directed me to a website. Fortunately my kidneys are ok now.

I haven’t been able to get a cardiac review but it’s not preventing treatment so I’ll leave it for now. I’d have to get a private clinic appointment if I want to pursue it and the wait there can be months rather than weeks. It’s not uncommon to wait 12 months for a specialist appointment.

A friend was referred by her family doctor to the local hospital because she had symptoms that concerned him. The hospital told her it would take over a year for them to see her so they transferred her name to another hospital. She was lucky because she rang after a month to check when they’d see her so they gave her an appointment that had come available because that patient couldn’t take it up. She was in the highest risk category and needed to be seen within 30 days. Ultimately she was and the scan showed bowel cancer.

Hospitals are loaded down with potential patients as well as patients receiving treatment. Ambulances are waiting so long in queues outside the hospital that patients are dying in the parking area.

I know that doesn’t make you feel better but your problem isn’t as uncommon as you’d hope. Hopefully you do get seen in 12 weeks!

All the best

Kerry

[Merma]

Do any of your doctors allow you to be on a wait list for an earlier appointment if someone cancels?

[Petmatt in reply to Merma]

I am on a waiting list for a cancellation for gall bladder removal, otherwise it's about 18 weeks due to the Covid back log . Found out I had large gall stones on my 3 monthly secondary breast cancer CT scans which explained my stomach pain

[Granny333 in reply to Merma]

hi, yes and I am thankful for that☺️

[Granny333 in reply to Merma]

Yes and I am very thankful for that

[Andersl]

I empathise with your situation though I've just watched a young man on TV saying he has to wait 70 weeks for an appointment about his heart condition. No mention of him having any other conditions eg cancer.As for myself, I feel fortunate (and somewhat guilty) that in keeping me (with stage iv de novo) alive for the past 5 years. I've probably had around a million pounds worth of anti cancer treatment on the NHS.

[Ashtead2 in reply to Andersl]

Read your bio when I realised you were in the UK. I'm in a similar situation to you Diagnosed Novo MBC with mets to lungs, liver, and spine, although only 18 months ago. I too feel guilty how much I'm costing the NHS. However husband was told waiting list for physio is 65 weeks, and he has been waiting since June 2022 to see a neurologist to check if he has Parkinsons. Best wishes, you have given me hope.

[PJBinMI]

Phone your onc's office and talk with the nurse....they may be able to call and get an appt for you sooner than that!

[TammyCross]

The same situation in the US, but I think there may be more work-arounds than in the UK. When I needed to see a cardiologist, I could only get an appointment for 6 months out, and that would not do. I had been seeing a rheumatologist on the same corridor. His admin assistant told me this cardiologist came in at 8 but didn't schedule patients until 9. I went at 8 and got in. I needed to see him again years later before surgery and again couldn't get an appointment until after the surgery. The nurse for the hernia surgeon put me on hold when I told her, and when she came back I had an appointment with the cardiologist for 3 days before the surgery. A little short but manageable.

When I was developing ONJ, I got the wrong nurse to try to intervene and get me an appointment. Didn't work. Asked my primary to intervene and she said she had no clout with that department. Etc. Ended up losing part of my jaw. After the fact, a nurse practitioner in oncology said she could have gotten me in.

A couple of times, I have gotten an appointment when a doctor is new and doesn't have an overload of patients. I have been told several times by docs in different departments that they are required to carry a higher number of patients than they can possibly treat adequately. There are not enough doctors and too many patients. The wealthy, well-connected, and/or famous are better able to skip to the front of the line.

People, including on this board, die because they cannot get to the right doctor in time. It is crazy. It is pervasive.

[mariootsi]

I'm finding also that it takes months to get appointments. It's so frustrating. We are at their mercy.

[Granny333 in reply to mariootsi]

Yes and when you have to cancel they want to charge you

[mariootsi in reply to Granny333]

Yes

[rubyc1234]

Well that is what it is like here in Canada. Where are you located?

[Granny333 in reply to rubyc1234]

Ohio

[NPmary]

There are cardiologists specializing in Oncology. Did your doc recommend specialists for you or did she/he just tell you to make an appointment? If so your doc should have been more helpful - this would have me me seeking a 2cd opinion. Do you have a family member to help? My daughter makes my appointments when she has a problem sheplays the cancer card, she is always polite and always gets results. Good luck. Maybe there is a social worker or some type of advocate at your cancer center who can assist you? 🌺

[Dragonfly2]

granny…I’m pretty sure you’re in America….and I have shared these delayed appointments myself…such as getting am MRI to see what is going on with pain with failing IBrance . I sqwaked squawked until someone found an imaging center. Now I’m waiting again for another MRI…but I’ve heard that in some countries the waiting is systemic and longer.

But what is really chilling is that specialists won’t see stage 4 patients because they don’t have long anyway…hmmm…is that the death panels who would prevent older ill patients from accessing care?

Gosh I’m so sorry you and others have faced this kind of delay, delay , delay…every single human deserves only the best care possible. Look , if anyone feels dismissed by a provider, write a letter to the CEO and let them know…that’s the last thing they want on their record.

Advocate for yourselves…be the squeaky wheel and then smile and apologize for being a pest…

Best wishes …❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

[Dflur]

if you live in the states, we should all know what this picture is all about! Millions of new patients, over 8 million to be exact, at least! And they get seen for free!!