Breast cancer, Hospital Comarcal, Velez Malaga

[Weewoody]

Hi there, have any of you ladies been treated here? I’m just about pulling my hair out with the time it’s taken. Had a mammogram 5th November as I had an obvious lump. My local GP referred me urgently. It’s been one delay after another to get ultrasound, then biopsy and results. Diagnosis is cancer and operation required asap as so far it appears lymph nodes not affected. Who now knows after all this time? I’m still waiting, it’s supposedly urgent but no date so far. I see the anaesthetist today so hopefully an op soon but my god so far it’s been awful.

[Free at Last]

I'm very sorry to hear about your diagnosis and do understand what a terribly anxious time this is for you. I saw my doctor at the Centro de Salud on a Monday morning in early September 2019 with suspicious symptoms, and she made an urgent referral to the Hospital Comarcal de la Axarquia. On the Thursday morning I saw a gynaecologist there who took samples for a biopsy and did an ultrasound scan, I went back 7 days later and got the results of the biopsy which confirmed endometrial cancer (one of the least aggressive types) and I was told it was at a very early stage and I would only need a hysterectomy, not chemotherapy or radiotherapy. I had an MRI scan at the hospital the following Tuesday then waited a couple of weeks for an appointment with the anaesthetist, and it wasn't until after I had seen him that I got a date for the operation which was done on 26th October. It was 7 weeks between my first seeing the GP and the surgery, which I thought was pretty good given the stage the cancer was at. I had a follow-up appointment a month after the operation and afterwards I have had twice-yearly checkups for the first two years and am now having annual ones for a further 3 years. I had the latest one on 1st December and have an appointment for the next in December 2023. All the checkups have gone ahead with no delays throughout the pandemic. I am aware from the Macmillan Cancer forum that in the UK, with the type and grade of the cancer I had, I would just have been put on a self-referral system, ie "get in touch with us if you notice any symptoms" so in my experience the aftercare has been much more thorough here. I do hope you get a date for your surgery soon and the outcome will be good.

By the way, I had had a lumpectomy some years previously, in the private system here in Spain, when what was described as a cluster of microcalcifications showed up on a mammogram. I had a biopsy then and the results took longer to come back than they did in the public system. Turned out to be benign but the waiting was awful and in the end I had to ring up and chase the results.

[Pamela1]

Hi there, have any of you ladies been treated here? I’m just about pulling my hair out with the time it’s taken. Had a mammogram 5th November as I had an obvious lump. My local GP referred me urgently. It’s been one delay after another to get ultrasound, then biopsy and results. Diagnosis is cancer and operation required asap as so far it appears lymph nodes not affected. Who now knows after all this time? I’m still waiting, it’s supposedly urgent but no date so far. I see the anaesthetist today so hopefully an op soon but my god so far it’s been awful.

I hope you get your op soon, best wishes blowing your way..

[Weewoody]

Update - op now scheduled for 12th January! Then I guess wait for more results and treatment plan. It’s all so disjointed. My local GP referred me urgently on 3rd November. I knew he knew what it was by his reaction.

[Free at Last]

I am glad you now have a date for your surgery and hope it goes well. Yes, there will inevitably be another wait for results because the histology study can't be completed until after the tumour has been removed and the information from that is needed to determine the best course of treatment.

[Weewoody]

Thank you. At least I’m in the system now, so hopefully things will keep on moving. I guess I was unlucky with all the delays, lots of holidays in December. Roll on op date next week.

[chrissiehope]

Fingers crossed for you - good luck

[Weewoody]

Thanks all. x

[Lyric]

Do youknow the name of your surgeon ?

[Weewoody]

My surgeon is Paloma Rey Perez.

[Lyric]

OK my wife has had a surgeon that has successfully made her very ill on two occasions. That is not the name.

[Weewoody]

Thank God for that. She seems lovely and well switched on. I feel in safe hands.

[Weewoody]

Successful operation, now just await call back for treatment plan. Let’s see how slick the oncology department are, I’ve heard good things.

[IreneD]

Wishing you all the best, hope oncology look after you and you are soon cancer free.

[Weewoody]

Thanks IreneD, I’ve been shunted to Malaga Materno for my treatments. I’ve heard they’re good but what a faff as will be having treatments daily. Onwards and upwards!