A rapid diagnostic pathway for patients with non-specific symptoms

Your GP has invited you to be investigated by the non-site specific (NSS) rapid diagnostic pathway.

For a rapid diagnosis it is important that you make yourself available for all appointments. Please take time to read all the patient information carefully. Should you require any further information, please feel free to contact the team using the details provided.

What is the purpose of the NSS pathway?

Many patients visit their GP with vague or general symptoms such as weight loss and tiredness. These symptoms are called ‘non-specific’ as they affect the whole person. Often the cause of these symptoms remains unclear after your GP has assessed you. These ‘non-specific’ symptoms may sometimes be caused by a serious disease, such as cancer, but the risk of this is very low. There could be a number of reasons for these symptoms and although the risk of serious disease is low, there are some patients for whom early tests could help make a diagnosis quicker and treatment started sooner.

This pathway is designed to give GPs a quick and efficient way to access this full group of tests for patients with ‘non-specific’ symptoms.

Breast clinic information

You may be invited to attend the breast clinic (also known as the one stop clinic) that is run by a team of health professionals including a consultant surgeon, specialist registrars, radiographers and clinical nurse specialists. Depending on your referral and clinical information you may be seen by one or more of the team on your visit to the breast clinic.

During your visit you may have a breast examination and/or a scan such as a mammogram or an ultrasound in the Breast Imaging Unit, and on some occasions a core biopsy or a Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) test will be performed. However, not all patients attending clinic will need all/any tests. The clinic doctor might see you a second time with the results of any imaging or to arrange a follow up visit. Some patients will be reassured by the imaging team and leave directly from there.

If you have any questions, please let the clinic nurse know before you leave.

Frequently asked questions

What is a mammogram?

A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast. Mammography is not usually recommended for women under 40 years old because the breast tissue is too dense for the x-rays to shine through. A specialist radiographer will take the pictures (at least 2 of each breast) and a Specialist Breast Radiologist will look at the pictures and write a report while you are in the clinic.

Will the mammogram hurt?

Most women find mammograms a little uncomfortable, but it is over very quickly. It is important to get the pressure just right, so we get the best possible pictures and look at as much breast tissue as possible.

What is an Ultrasound scan?

An ultrasound scan (USS) is a painless test. A small hand-held sensor is moved over the breast. A gel is used to lubricate the skin and improve the quality of the pictures. A Specialist Breast Radiologist or Consultant Radiographer will look at the pictures and write a report while you are in the clinic.

Ultrasound Breast Patient Information Leaflet

What is a core biopsy?

Several tiny slithers of tissue are removed from the breast under local anaesthetic. The tissue removed is sent to the Pathology department to be looked at under the microscope to see if there are any abnormalities. The person performing the test will explain what they are doing in more detail.

What is a Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) Test?

This test involves sucking a few cells from the breast through a thin needle. This test is not always as reliable as the core biopsy and sometimes needs repeating. The person performing the test will explain what they are doing in more detail and why they think it is the best test for you.

How long will I be in the clinic?

Please allow at least three hours for your appointment. You may want to bring a book, magazine, or friend to help pass the time. Please note that not all patients will have all tests so some appointments will be much shorter.

Will I need to come back to clinic?

Most patients are given their results, an explanation of their symptoms by the doctors and discharged from the breast clinic after this visit. However, if you have a core biopsy or needle test you will be offered another appointment, usually within two weeks to come back and discuss the results.

Written information is available in the clinic to support the explanation you receive from the doctor. Please ask if you need the information in another language or accessible format.

Having a CT scan easy read booklet | Macmillan Cancer Support

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The operational standards for cancer waiting times were developed initially with the introduction of the Cancer Plan in 2000, These standards are reviewed annually by NHS England and a new version of cancer waiting times is published every one to you years. The most recent version is Cancer Waiting Times Standards version 12.

The initial focus of these standards is to ensure patients are seen, diagnosed and treated against a series of timescales.

The required standards for cancer waiting times are:

• A maximum wait of 28 days to be informed if a patient has or doesn’t have a cancer diagnosis.
• A maximum wait of 31 days for any cancer treatment following consent (this includes surgery, anti-cancer drug regimens and radiotherapy).
• A maximum wait of 62 days for first treatment for those patients referred on an urgent suspected cancer pathway or from an NHS cancer screening service.
• A maximum wait of 62 days for first treatment for patients who were seen as routinely but were then upgraded to an urgent suspected cancer pathway by the clinician who saw them.

The Cancer Services team at Airedale General Hospital is responsible for tracking all patients who fall into the above cohorts in line with the most recent version of cancer waiting times. Airedale NHS Foundation Trust are required to report this information to a national team, this ensures we are continually working towards achieving the standards on a consistent basis.