Where to get a second look at a problem other than own GP?

Hi guys,

My DH has had something growing on his head for a while now and they have identified it to be a cyst. They haven't taken a biopsy to ease my mind and rule out any kind of skin cancers. I realise that usually cysts are not dangerous but I just need a doctor to take a sample and give me the definite answer. On top of that DH has been waiting for months to have a mini removal operation on his head. Apparently no doctors are available so they've set up an appointment with a nurse to do this. Is there anywhere we can go to have a doctor properly look at it and tell me for sure that it's not cancerous? DH has a large history of cancers in his family.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

I'm not sure, but is it something you could go to a walk-in clinic for?

Hope you get it looked at!

Can you afford to go privately for a one off appointment? Alternatively is there another GP practice you can register to get a second opinion.

Can you afford to go privately for a one off appointment? Alternatively is there another GP practice you can register to get a second opinion.

Thanks guys for the advice.

We can't afford private but I will use credit cards or whatever necessary. Can anyone direct me on how to book a private appointment? Many thanks

I did a google search to find the nearest private healthcare in my area. You may need a referral from a GP.

I am surprised your GP has not referred him to a consultant dermatologist -- or is that what the delay is?  The NHS doesn't want people seeing a specialist without referral from the GP -- and then there is often a long wait 

Have you asked your GP if he/she will refer you to a consultant? You may need to put a bit of pressure on, but it could work.

Getting a second opinion can be a simple as seeing a different doctor in the surgery or trying another surgery if they will take you. 

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/910.aspx?CategoryID=68&SubCategoryID=156

Have they explained to you both why this is just a cyst or explain to you both why its not cancerous?   
Maybe you both don't need a second opinion, rather than a more specific test to rule out cancer. Maybe the GP would go for that if he/she doesn't think you "need" the consultant.  They should be there to ease your fears, otherwise, get a new doctor!! 
Otherwise, I would say try and see if they will refer you to a consultant.  Has that question been asked directly before?  They would then need to explain further why its not necessary which would hopefully put you at ease as well.   

You could also pay private as a last resort if you really don't believe them.   
Good luck! 

Thanks everyone for your help. They have not referred DH to any consultants. I wasn't at the latest appointment where apparently the dr just looked at the side of his head for 5 seconds and said "it's just a cyst, make an appointment to get it removed." I can accept that they've diagnosed it correctly but it has been getting larger steadily and I know that without a biopsy there isn't really a way to rule out cancer completely. I'm going to book an appointment with a different doctor in the surgery and will be persistent this time. I wish I'd gone with DH when he went last time. He's got that "I don't want to be a bother" attitude so never questions anything or pushes for anything. It's all very frustrating for me since I need evidence to be fully at ease.

They have not referred DH to any consultants.

The lesson here is that you can't be passive. Just because the GP hasn't suggested a consultant doesn't mean that's the end of the story. Ask to see one. State your case and be a bit pushy if need be.

I appreciate this is slightly off the advice you were seeking but it might offer a bit of help.

The key is in what kind of cyst it is.  I have two cysts on my head and have had them for a long time.  They run in my family and the past couple of years (I swear they have gotten larger during/after my being pregnant) they got large enough that they were bothering me.  In my case they are called sebaceous cysts.  They are completely benign-they start as like a blocked duct in a  hair follicle and are very common.  I was told the same thing-benign and if I wanted, I could get them removed, which I'm doing in about a week.  All of this is with the NHS, not private.

It is my understanding that anytime they remove things like this a biopsy will occur-so it's not always necessary to do a biopsy, as the tissue will be tested.  Again, it depends on what type of cyst it is.  I should also add that I had skin cancer.  My cyst was looked at by a GP before I had skin cancer and after it had gotten bigger and the same response-I was told it had no  bearing on it.   

I appreciate this is slightly off the advice you were seeking but it might offer a bit of help.

The key is in what kind of cyst it is.  I have two cysts on my head and have had them for a long time.  They run in my family and the past couple of years (I swear they have gotten larger during/after my being pregnant) they got large enough that they were bothering me.  In my case they are called sebaceous cysts.  They are completely benign-they start as like a blocked duct in a  hair follicle and are very common.  I was told the same thing-benign and if I wanted, I could get them removed, which I'm doing in about a week.  All of this is with the NHS, not private.

It is my understanding that anytime they remove things like this a biopsy will occur-so it's not always necessary to do a biopsy, as the tissue will be tested.  Again, it depends on what type of cyst it is.  I should also add that I had skin cancer.  My cyst was looked at by a GP before I had skin cancer and after it had gotten bigger and the same response-I was told it had no  bearing on it.   

Thanks for that. This really put me at ease. I believe DH also has a sebaceous one. I suppose if they biopsy it during removal then there's no need for a specialist? Thanks again for everyone's feedback.

It is my understanding that anytime they remove things like this a biopsy will occur-so it's not always necessary to do a biopsy, as the tissue will be tested. 

This was my experience with a papilloma. If they remove it, they test, as a measure of safe practice.

Hope it all goes OK and you get good / no news, IYKWIM. 

This was my experience with a papilloma. If they remove it, they test, as a measure of safe practice.

Hope it all goes OK and you get good / no news, IYKWIM. 

Thanks! It was removed today and sent off for biopsy. 

That is great!! Hope everything is well now