bbc.com
12 GP Visits Before Tumour Diagnosis
A woman details her traumatic experience of seeing her GP 12 times before a tumour diagnosis, highlighting concerns about healthcare practices.
English
United Kingdom
HealthHealthcareCancerDiagnosisMedical ErrorPatient Experience
Lancashire And South Cumbria Integrated Care BoardNhs
Nikki Helme
- What is Ms. Helme's call to action for GPs?
- Ms. Helme advocates for GPs to listen more attentively to their patients' concerns to avoid similar delays in diagnosis. She is scheduled for surgery to remove the tumour.
- How did Ms. Helme describe her experience with her GP?
- Ms. Helme's experience was described as "demoralising and traumatising" due to the repeated dismissals and the length of time it took to receive a diagnosis. The emotional toll impacted her self-esteem and mental health.
- What prompted the tests that led to Ms. Helme's diagnosis?
- The tumour was discovered after Ms. Helme passed blood and underwent testing. Before this, she was repeatedly misdiagnosed with thrush or bacterial vaginosis despite lacking symptoms.
- How many times did Nikki Helme visit her GP before her tumour diagnosis?
- Nikki Helme visited her GP twelve times before being diagnosed with a low-grade neuroendocrine tumour. She reported feeling dismissed and that her concerns were not taken seriously.
- What was the response of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board?
- The Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board stated that all GPs receive continuous training and follow guidelines, but they did not comment directly on Ms. Helme's case.