"A referral to urology service"

A 4.5 cm tumour was found on my right kidney late last year on an ultrasound and then on a CT scan. I was referred to urology at Midland.

I received a letter saying that I was on a waitlist and it may take some time, dated around a month later. At the time I was not worried about this as due to a miscommunication with my GP, I thought the tumour was less than a cm in size.

However, after another follow up scan, I discovered the other week the actual size, and found out from the public health guidelines on renal mass referral wait times, that a mass of 4cm or greater is classed as urgent, category one, and that as I understand it, I should have been seen within 30 days. I rang Midland hospital and found out that I am categorised at non-urgent. I have been ringing around, visiting doctors and speaking to people trying to have this changed. I thought this had been successful but around the time of writing this, I found out I am still classified as non-urgent. I am still on a waitlist and might not be seen till late this year if it can't be fixed. If this is cancer, I believe it could have spread by then and I might die because of this mistake.

I feel extremely scared, and like my voice, care, opinions and even my life are not considered as important. I am also confused and angry about why this has happened and how my referral got categorised this way and I feel that since my life may be in danger, I deserve to know what is going on.

I am currently trying to seek mental health help additional to the physical help I need as the stress and worry I feel have overwhelmed my normal coping abilities. This has left me unable to work, sleep, or carry on with my normal day-to-day responsibilities.