It’s scanxiety that finally pulled me down…
I found a lump in May 2021. In January 2022 I was finally diagnosed, after a single mastectomy, with triple negative metaplastic carcinoma. This is a rare breast cancer, with the worst prognosis of t...
Forum Discussion
I am so sorry you had to go thru this, @fufan - that is unforgivable! I would have been a basket case too (but I can cry at the drop of a hat these days!)
KNOWING that anyone with cancer will be seeing their specialist team for a minimum of 5 years (10 years for the Oncs) the GP should automatically give you a ONGOING/PERMANENT REFERRAL (ask for one when you see your GP so you don't have to go thru it again next year - and get them to do the same for your Rad Onc and Medical Onc at the same appointment, so you have ALL 3!!) as I did 3 years ago for my team. (They don't always 'like' them, but they accept them!)
When I rang 2 weeks ago to organise my surgeon appt yesterday, they tried to get me to do a new referral as well - but I stuck to my guns & told them they already had it!! They tried to say it was something to do with difficulty going thru Medicare ..... but both my Oncs have never said there was a problem with the Permanent Referral ......
Many specialists will still see you without a referral, specially if you are an existing patient - and you can fax/email it to them when you get back from the appointment with the GP - and the GP (if only doing yearly referrals) could easily set up a 'reminder system' & DO the referrals as the time approaches & get the Reception to email them straight to the specialists - it would not be hard to set up, at all!! And it would be seen as being very helpful & an organised GP! AND the GP should do it & fax it, without having to see you & charge you for an appt!
Sadly, the gatekeepers have NO IDEA of the emotional stress & pressure that we are under .... my last scans was the first time in 5 years that I didn't have to go in for a 2nd scan/biopsy!! WIN!
take care & all the best for your appts - both of them! grrr xx
KNOWING that anyone with cancer will be seeing their specialist team for a minimum of 5 years (10 years for the Oncs) the GP should automatically give you a ONGOING/PERMANENT REFERRAL (ask for one when you see your GP so you don't have to go thru it again next year - and get them to do the same for your Rad Onc and Medical Onc at the same appointment, so you have ALL 3!!) as I did 3 years ago for my team. (They don't always 'like' them, but they accept them!)
When I rang 2 weeks ago to organise my surgeon appt yesterday, they tried to get me to do a new referral as well - but I stuck to my guns & told them they already had it!! They tried to say it was something to do with difficulty going thru Medicare ..... but both my Oncs have never said there was a problem with the Permanent Referral ......
Many specialists will still see you without a referral, specially if you are an existing patient - and you can fax/email it to them when you get back from the appointment with the GP - and the GP (if only doing yearly referrals) could easily set up a 'reminder system' & DO the referrals as the time approaches & get the Reception to email them straight to the specialists - it would not be hard to set up, at all!! And it would be seen as being very helpful & an organised GP! AND the GP should do it & fax it, without having to see you & charge you for an appt!
Sadly, the gatekeepers have NO IDEA of the emotional stress & pressure that we are under .... my last scans was the first time in 5 years that I didn't have to go in for a 2nd scan/biopsy!! WIN!
take care & all the best for your appts - both of them! grrr xx