Health screening on Spanish NHS

[Wicksey]

We have paid privately up to now so I intend on making use of the free NHS service as much as possible now that we've managed to get into the system. My Dr was happy to give me routine blood tests alongside my hypothyroidism ones that I need every 6 months, so hopefully it shouldn't be a problem getting other things tested in the future.

Haven't you been put onto the mammogram screening programme Olive (I am presuming that you are within age range 50 - 69 .... apologies if you are not!!)

[Miro]

I'm not sure why the first routine blood test, when we registered at our new GP surgery, didn't include certain checks such as PSA (it's the same blood, why don't they just check everything at once?), but as I said before, only because I mentioned some weight loss did the GP decide to have further tests done. My GP in Spain wasn't interested in the weight loss. Getting a blood test done in Spain involved first seeing the GP (we could usually, but not always, get an appointment within a day or two), then making an appointment for the extraction - usually at least a week later - and then another appointment with the GP a week to 10 days later for the results. Maybe in urgent cases they can get them back quicker, I wouldn't know.
Here in the UK, I went from the GP's office to the reception, made an appointment to have blood taken the next day, and came back to see the GP for the results 2 days later. The GP had mentioned the possibility of a Digital Rectal Exam, which at first I thought was some electronic imagery (we are in the digital age, are we not? ) As a result of this he decided to refer me to a urologist for further tests. This was on Thursday. I received a phone call yesterday, followed by a confirmation letter today (Saturday), with an appointment next Thursday at the hospital. (The post alone in Spain couldn't compete with that!)
About a year ago, I mentioned to my Spanish GP about a sharp pain I had experienced below my right ribs on a couple of occasions. He sent me for an x-ray, which showed a probable gall stone. I was referred to a specialist (who I saw around about October 2016 in Málaga) and subsequently I received (by post) an appointment for an ultrasound scan. I won't be attending, because it's in October (2017). Fortunately, I've not experienced any further symptoms for a long time. I know you can't compare gall stones to possible cancer, and I'm not complaining about the Spanish health service, which for 20 years we have found to be generally very good, but so far I really can't complain about the UK NHS either. Swings and roundabouts?

[Gasman]

Wicksey - I believe that Olive is a chap ??!!!

[Wicksey]

I've always thought Olive was a girlie like me (mind you some people have thought I was male too .... not in the flesh when they've met me you understand!)

[olive]

olive : a small oval fruit with a hard stone used as food and as a source of oil.

Olive : Girls name, symbol of peace.

Quite correct, I haven't been offered mammogram screening

[Miro]

I missed the urology appointment last Thursday due to an unexpected hiccup which I've documented on another thread (viewtopic.php?f=25&t=37706) so won't elaborate here. I was immediately rescheduled for today. After a flow test and another DRE by the urologist, it was determined that the only indicator of anything amiss was the slightly high PSA (4.5). The urologist explained the two options very clearly; repeat the PSA test in 4-6 weeks time and then decide again what to do next, or go to biopsy, and the possible side effects etc. that may entail. It was clear to me that the urologist was gently suggesting the former, which suited me fine.

[casita-bonita]

Miro. Sorry to read of your high PSA, and surely hope that is some benign cause. However your italicised only rings alarm bells. I had a high PSA (4.7) in Jan 2015. Subsequent biopsies and scans showed that I had a tumour. BUT between then and eventual treatment in Feb 2017 I had NO physical symptoms of anything being wrong, nothing at all. Don't delay as if caught early you have plenty of time to decide on treatment as prostate cancer is slow growing. In the end I went for HIFU earlier this year. The procedure was a breeze, out of hospital the same day, and no side effects.

If/when you go for a biopsy make sure it's a plate biopsy not a rectal one. Sounds worse, but it is far more accurate and much less chance of aftereffects. I had both types. Raging infection after the rectal one, temp so high and shaking that my wife wanted to take me to causality. Plate biopsy, just minor soreness for a couple of days.

Please feel free to contact me if you want to discuss further.

[truebrit]

I have had quite a few mammagrams over here and have always had a followup letter telling me all was OK. My last one was the 27th July and I still havnt heard anyone else waiting to hear.?

[elusive]

A family member had an MRI uptop at the same time as you and hasnt had a letter yet for a follow up appointment. they said you should get one in three weeks.done on the NHS but at a private clinic . I put it down to it been august we will chase it up if we havnt heard in a couple of weeks

[Wicksey]

I have had quite a few mammagrams over here and have always had a followup letter telling me all was OK. My last one was the 27th July and I still havnt heard anyone else waiting to hear.?

Me too. Mine was on 26 July at the mobile centre in Velez and I was told that the results would be sent to me directly but so far haven't received anything.

[truebrit]

Wicksey, same place, I just hope its "no news is good news"!

[Miro]

Probably every centre does things differently, but where Mrs.M used to go every two years (Mijas) she was always told she would receive a letter within three weeks only if there was any need for a follow up. So in that case, no news is certainly good news. I would like to think that if there was anything untoward found, they would be in touch pretty promptly.

[Wicksey]

Wicksey, same place, I just hope its "no news is good news"!

Yes I was thinking the same. I am slightly relieved to know that it's not just me that hasn't received them. I do have a phone number of the mammogram program that you can ring if you haven't received your appointment or your results: 670 944914. Being the first time I've had it done I wasn't sure how long I should have to wait.

[truebrit]

the last one I had was two years ago and had notification within 4 weeks, however it was at the Comarcal Hospital, this like yours, was in the mobile unit. Im putting it down to that but thanks for the t/phone no. will give it another couple of weeks(taking into consideration the month of AUGUST here)and then call.

[Lyric]

April or May Senior Management had a check when the mobile was in Torrox.
She has not heard anything yet, and has formed the opinion that no letter = no fault found.
The previous one, there was some doubt and she was very quickly called for a scan at Hospital in TdM.

[Wicksey]

Maybe the mobiles are different although when I asked about the results she did say they would be posted to me. They should really send something through just so that you know it has all been processed properly.

In all the previous years I have had a mammogram they've needed to do an ultrasound scan too, but as my last one was 5 years ago and I am older now maybe I don't need a scan as well. Ho hum .... I shall wait and perhaps just mention it when I next see the Dr for my blood tests in October if I haven't heard by then.

[casita-bonita]

Ok so I'm a bloke but my wife isn't and she had a mammogram in Algarrobo a couple of months or so ago. Today she received a letter from the NHS saying that the scan was all clear and come back in two years. On the flip side a couple of years ago friend of ours wasn't so lucky and they contacted here within a couple of days of the scan to get her into hospital for further tests. So it seems that no immediate news is good news.

[Evelyn]

I just read through this post and saw the comments about mammograms and how women hadn't been notified about the results. I had one in July and today I received my letter telling me all was OK. Good job it was a positive result!

[Wicksey]

Mine was in July and I still haven't heard! I have known friends get their letters after 5 months but 7 months is something else. Hopefully, if they had sent me a letter it wasn't lost and wasn't something more urgent!

[Lyric]

Confirming Bob above, Senior Management had an anomaly on her mammogram, she is particularly well endowed so it is difficult, and the recall for ultrasound was within days. No fault found but it is now in her notes to have both when due.