Joan's life on hold... (From Penarth Times)

Joan's life on hold...

A PENARTH woman who found a lump in her breast has been told by the NHS that she will have to wait up to 28 days for tests - despite being classed as a high-risk patient.

Joan Marsh, 63, of West-bourne Court, has had 11 breast operations in 10 years, including one to remove her lymph nodes.

She is classified as a high risk case, and on finding the latest lump, was immediately referred by her GP to a specialist breast cancer clinic at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff.

Her GP at Stanwell Road Surgery told her she could expect to wait 10 days for tests.

But Mrs Marsh was told by the clinic that she would have to wait between 21 and 28 days.

Mrs Marsh said: 'I think it is appalling that women are expected to wait for such a long period of time.

'The worst thing is the constant worry. It is something that is always in the back of your mind. I have paid National Insurance contributions all my life. I feel very let down by the NHS system.'

Mrs Marsh, who is an employee of the Penarth Times, was on holiday in Cyprus when she first noticed the lump.

She said: 'I was mortified when I found it. It's been five years since I had my last operation and I thought I was clear of it.

'My reaction was probably not the same as a woman who discovers a lump for the first time - that is terrifying because you're convinced it's cancer and your life is at risk.

'Because in the past my lumps have turned out to be benign, you convince yourself that things are going to be OK.'

A case in Swansea last week highlighted how vital it is for any potential cancer to be treated quickly.

A 19-year-old woman, who was on a two-month waiting list for tests, was saved when her grandmother stepped in to pay for a £110 private consultation.

Doctors told Lyndsey Dyer that the cancer could have spread quickly through her body, and the quick diagnosis could have saved her life.

Lyndsey underwent surgery and chemotherapy and has now been given the all-clear.

Penarth AM Lorraine Barrett said: 'I have made inquiries with the chairman's office at Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust.

'I have asked what has happened to the ten-day target that they were reaching in February.

'For anyone who discovers a lump, particularly in the breast, it is a very distressing time and they need to be seen as soon as possible - often to have their fears allayed, but if they need treatment, then they need to be seen sooner rather than later.'

A spokesman for the trust said: 'The Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust does not comment on individual cases because of patient confidentiality.

'We work to Welsh Assembly Government ten-working-day breast cancer referral targets and we are succeeding in meeting these targets for the majority of women who require this service.

'The number of referrals can vary greatly. Some days there are none received, other days the number can be as high as 30, which has been the case in the past couple of weeks.

'As a result of this, some women may have to wait longer than we would like.

'Our current waiting time is 15 working days. We appreciate that waiting for referral can be very stressful and we try to accommodate everyone as soon as possible.'

*The support group Breast Cancer Care Cymru is holding an awareness-raising walk today, starting at 1pm from the steps of the Welsh Institute of Sport in Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, and women are asked to wear pink.