A breast cancer survivor has hit out at NHS Tayside over stress caused by the “unacceptable” six week wait for mammogram results due to a lack of radiographers.
The survivor from Perth, who wished to remain anonymous, was given the all clear by doctors at Ninewells Hospital two years ago but undergoes annual mammogram tests to make sure the cancer has not returned.
Initially the patient was told the results would be given in three weeks but that waiting period doubled to six weeks in 2018 and 2019.
The patient said: “This is a long long time. The cancer can come back and spread.
“It’s unacceptable and it’s dangerous.
“Every day I wake up and I’m very worried. It’s extremely stressful and I’m worried for all the other women who are the same.”
The survivor claimed she was told last year her results would be available after three weeks but five weeks later she had to contact the hospital herself as she had still not received them.
She said: “I rang them and was told they had a shortage of radiographers.
“This year I was told it will take six weeks. People need to be made aware. It could cost someone their life.”
A leading breast cancer charity said delays in returning results could seriously impact a patient’s quality of life.
Ashleigh Simpson, policy and campaigns manager (Scotland) at Breast Cancer Care and Breast Cancer Now, said: “For so many women undergoing follow-up scans after their breast cancer treatment, the wait for results can be extremely distressing and we need to do everything we can to minimise this time of uncertainty.
“Fears that the cancer could come back are very common and any delays in providing scan results to women can have a major impact on their quality of life.
“It’s therefore concerning to hear that some patients in Perth may be waiting longer than usual for scan results and we look to NHS Tayside for reassurance that any delays will be investigated and addressed.”
NHS Tayside admitted there is a shortage of radiologists but said they were taking steps to reduce the waiting times.
A spokesperson for NHS Tayside said: “There is a national shortage of radiologists which unfortunately makes our waiting times longer than we would like.
“However, we have recruited a new breast radiologist who will be starting work in NHS Tayside in August.
“We are also looking at redesigning how the team works across Tayside to reduce waiting times for our patients.”
Breast Cancer Care’s free helpline can be contacted on 0808 800 6000.
