Getting a lump evaluated

I found a small lump near right breast.  I am not worried.  I don't think it's anything but have to be safe, blah, blah.

This is my understanding of my options:

Go to GP, have him take a look.  It's free since it's NHS
OR
Go to FPA clinic, have them look at it, but this will cost me out of pocket.

I do not like my GP AT ALL, do not feel comfortable having him take a look.  This is why I'm considering FPA, but it kinda sucks to pay out of pocket for something I could get for free.

If there are any options I missed, please let me know, thanks!

FPA's shouldn't cost anything...shop around for a clinic and contact your local health authority if you can't find somewhere.  Many hospitals and clinics have sessions focused at women so you can feel comfortable.

Good luck.

Vicky

What about your practice nurse or out of hours practice?  

Can you ask for a differnt doctor?

Switch surgeries.  

My niece recently had a lumpectomy. She found the lump and immediately went to the GP who didnt even look at it but referred her to the breast clinic in town. She was seen that day. I have never had a GP at our surgery touch me at all. They just refer you to the proper clinics.

Pebbles, that is good to hear, thank you.

Thanks, kathleen, I know I should switch but I've felt unmotivated to switch our family of five for my dislike of the GP.  But I like your ideas, I'm going to ring the surgery now.

VictoriaS, I'm thrilled to hear FPAs don't cost!  Glad to hear I was wrong.  I'm going to keep this in mind in case surgery is unhelpful.

I got in to the surgery yesterday and the GP has referred me to a gyno.  Now what happens?  A letter in the post telling me where to go?  Please tell me they won't just give me an appointment in the post, I want to have say in what time works for us!

If I'm not happy with the gyno, or want a second opinion, what do I do?

Also, this gyno is in a hospital.  If I don't want to go to hospital, is there a way to search for gynos in the area?  I'm amazed I am being referred 30 miles away from us as we live in a good sized town.

To see a gynae on the NHS you will most likely have to see them at the hospital.  They may have their own consulting rooms somewhere but that is usually for private practice.  You might be able to find out if there are any others nearby on the NHS website.  They may call you to discuss appointment times or they may just send you one in the post - in which case you can call & change it if the time's not convenient.

Every GYN I have ever been to in the UK has been at a hospital. But its very much a clinic type setting. Not hospital-ly at all.

I'm back with yet more questions.

The surgery said the referral process and getting the appointment in the post will take 10-12 weeks.  The reason they give me is, 'it's NHS, everything is taking a long time on NHS.'

I really want to be fair and not judge something as inferior before I understand. 

So, is there a good reason why I'm waiting two to three months to get a lump properly evaluated?  The surgery says they absolutely cannot do a thing to speed this up.

My DH doesn't want to pay, if we dont' have to.  So that's why we took the NHS route initally.

Thanks, again!

a close friend recently had the same experience.  her doctor told her that the reason she had to wait so long for an appointment was that she was under 35, so the risk of the lump being anything other than a cyst or fatty lump is very low.   if she were older, or had other risk factors (family members, etc) she would have been seen much quicker.  she initially went to the dr, was asked to come back after her next cycle, still there so was referred to breast clinic in hospital.  they tried to do choose and book system with her but it didn't work.  so she got sent a letter with her appointment times.  it took about 4 weeks from seeing doctor 2nd time to getting appointment.  then another 7 weeks or so until that appointment.  she was told that at the breast clinic appointment she would be examined & an ultra-sound would be done.  she went and the ultra-sound person is never there on tuesdays so she had to go back 2 weeks later for an ultra-sound.  it's just a fatty lump and no need for concern- but still a stressful thing to have in the back of your mind.

do you have private supplemental insurance?  have you seen another doctor to ask him/her if you can be seen quicker?  did you ring the surgery and jsut ask why so long for appointment?

Thanks so much, meggles for the lengthy reply and sharing your friend's experience, that sounds like what I'm dealing with exactly.

Okay, well, I will just chill until I hear in the post when my appointment is at hospital.  We do not have supplemental insurance but this is my first real NHS experience so I feel lost!   We've been here a few years, had two babies but thankfully, haven't had to deal with NHS.

you've had two childeren in the UK without the NHS?

Yes!   Independent midwifery can be a wonderful way to go.

If you are available on short notice, you could always call the office of the consultant you are waiting to see and let the secretary know that you would be more than happy to take a cancelled appointment.  It works sometimes.

How would I learn the name of the gyno/contact info?  My surgery just told me to wait for something in the post, I have no idea if this is local hospital or ?

Thanks!