Rapid Diagnostic Lymphadenopathy Service

This leaflet explains the services that we offer at the Rapid Diagnostic Lymphadenopathy Service. Members of our friendly team will see you in a safe environment. They will look after and support you during your time with us.

We hope this leaflet answers some of the questions you may have. If you have any further questions or concerns, please speak to a member of your healthcare team.

Why have I been referred to this service?

Your GP has referred you to this service to investigate your symptoms further. You may have tests to find out what is wrong, and whether or not it could be cancer. It is really important that you come to the first available appointment.

Who is in the team?

Our team is multidisciplinary. Multidisciplinary means the team includes specialist doctors and nurses, as well as support staff.

• Consultant haematologists, doctors who specialise in diagnosing and treating conditions of the blood, including blood cancers.

• Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) who will be your main point of contact while using this service.

Our team is experienced and caring. You can talk to us about any worries or concerns you may have. We will support you during your treatment.

If you would like more information about your illness or treatment, please ask one of our team.

Where is the clinic held?

The clinic is in the Clinical Haematology Department at Kent and Canterbury Hospital.

Please refer to your appointment letter for the time of your appointment. The letter will also tell you if you need to bring anything with you to hospital.

When you arrive, please check-in at the clinic reception. The receptionist will welcome you and ask you to stay in the reception area until we call you. You also book your follow-up appointments here.

We make every effort to keep to your appointment time, but sometimes this is not possible. We will tell you if there are any delays.

Can I bring a relative or friend with me?

You are welcome to bring one family member, carer, or friend with you. Other patients have said how helpful it is to have someone with them, as there may be a lot of information given, especially when getting test results.

What happens at the clinic?

We will examine you in the clinic. If we find or suspect a lump we will arrange an urgent ultrasound scan. We may also ask you to have some blood tests, if your GP has not already done this.

When you have your ultrasound scan, the radiologist looking at the scan may do a biopsy at the same time.

If you would like more information on any of the tests, please speak to a member of the Clinical Haematology team. You can speak to them at your appointment, or by using the contact details below.

• Clinical Haematology team
  Telephone: 01227 864072
  Email

What is a biopsy?

A biopsy involves having a small piece of tissue taken from your lump, using a fine needle. We will examine this tissue under a microscope to look for abnormal cells. Sometimes we also test the tissue for abnormal chemicals, bacteria, or other germs.

Please wear comfortable loose clothing to your biopsy appointment. Avoid wearing clothes with metal clasps, this will make some tests easier to carry out.

How long will I be in hospital for if I need a biopsy?

Your appointment should take between 1 and 2 hours.

Will the biopsy be painful?

We will give you a local anaesthetic injection before your biopsy. The anaesthetic takes only a few minutes to work. It numbs the area, so you do not feel any pain during your procedure. The anaesthetic we use is the same as you would have at the dentist.

What are the risks to having a biopsy?

Complications are rare.

• You may have bruising and bleeding around where the needle went in. We will give you advice on what to do if it bleeds when you are at home.

• Infection is very rare.

• Sometimes a biopsy does not give us a result. If this happens, you may need another biopsy or a different test.

• It is important to understand, as with all tests, there is a small risk of:

  • an inaccurate result; or

  • an inconclusive result (not having a result).

Can I drive after my appointment?

Yes, you can drive home after having a local anaesthetic.

When will I get my results?

We will arrange a follow-up telephone appointment a few weeks after your first appointment. This appointment will be with the clinical nurse specialist.

• If we found or suspect cancer, the clinical nurse specialist will explain the next steps for you. They will also arrange further tests, if needed.

• If we found no cancer, we will send a letter to your GP after your telephone appointment. We will also discharge you from this service.

I have been told that my lymph nodes looked benign but I still have symptoms, what do I do now?

Swollen lymph nodes (sometimes called glands) are most often caused by an infection or virus, or the body reacting in some way. The symptoms will usually settle in a few weeks.

You may find that resting, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking paracetamol helps your symptoms. If we have told you that there is no cancer but you still have symptoms, ask your GP to investigate further.

How do I make a comment about my visit?

We are committed to improving services by listening to patients, their families, and carers. Our aim is to offer a compassionate and efficient service to all our patients and visitors. Feedback helps us to improve our services for future patients. This leads to positive experiences for them and their relatives or carers. However, if you do have a concern, please follow the advice below.

• Speak to a person in charge of the ward or clinic, or your Macmillan CNS. This is often the best way of getting your problem sorted out. We can often do something straight away, which avoids you becoming more anxious or distressed.

• If you would rather ask for help from someone else, PALS will do their best to help you. PALS are the Patient Advice and Liaison Service. If they cannot resolve your problem, they will be able to give you clear friendly advice on what your next steps should be.

  • PALS
    Telephone: 01227 783145
    Email

Contact details

If you have any concerns or further questions, please either speak to a member of staff during your appointment. Alternatively you can phone or email the Clinical Haematology team.

• Clinical Haematology team
  Telephone: 01227 864072
  Email

What do you think of this leaflet?

We welcome feedback, whether positive or negative, as it helps us to improve our care and services.

If you would like to give us feedback about this leaflet, please fill in our short online survey. Either scan the QR code below, or use the web link. We do not record your personal information, unless you provide contact details and would like to talk to us some more.

If you would rather talk to someone instead of filling in a survey, please call the Patient Voice Team.

• Patient Voice Team
  Telephone: 01227 868605
  Email