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Too soon to make a diagnosis?

Posted By kassandra

"Too soon to make a diagnosis?"

About: NHS Dumfries and Galloway

(as a carer),

An elderly gentelmen i care for has been told by his doctor he may have liver cancer, from basic blood tests.

I have read that you cannot diagnose liver cancer from blood tests alone. And I also feel it was wrong to tell the gentelman he may have liver cancer withought first having a full diagnosis.

Can anyone tell me if i am right?

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Responses

Response from Sally Holmes, Head of Patient Services, NHS Dumfries and Galloway 12 years ago
Sally Holmes
Head of Patient Services,
NHS Dumfries and Galloway

Submitted on 28/07/2011 at 14:24
Published on Care Opinion at 14:25

Dear kassandra

Thank you for raising your concern on the Patient Opinion web site. I can quite understand how worried and upset you and the gentleman you care for would be after hearing this news from the doctor - especially as you are not sure whether the diagnosis is right or not.

I am not a doctor and so I'm not in a position to say whether or not the suggestion of liver cancer is likely to be right or wrong. But I can see you need more information.

I think the best thing might be for the gentleman to go back to his doctor and explain how upset he is, and how he needs to know more about how certain the diagnosis is. If he agreed, you might be able to accompany him for moral support.

Best wishes

Sally Holmes

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by kassandra (a carer)

Thankyou for your response Sally.

The gentelman in question has now been for xrays and scans and all where unecessary as his liver and lungs and kidneys are all fine.

I am trully appalled that he could have this suggestion implanted in his brain before any real evidence was there and he hasn't even recieved an apology.

He wont let me say anything cos, as he puts it, he is just glad he is ok. i will respect his wishes but this has shocked me and i for one will not be seeing the doctor in question if i ever have a problem.

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