If you have confirmed cancer you should never wait six months to see an oncologist. If there's a bureaucratic block, your primary care doctor can pick up the ph

If you have confirmed cancer you should never wait six months to see an oncologist. If there's a bureaucratic block, your primary care doctor can pick up the phone, call the oncologist, and get you booked within one to two weeks. If you suspected cancer but not confirmed, it's your primary care doctor's job to get the appropriate testing completed within a reasonable timeframe. Not only is it the right thing to do ethically, but they face legal responsibility if they don't get you the medically indicated testing and follow up within a reasonable time frame. On the other hand waiting six months for something like a knee replacement is not fun, but it's also not detrimental to your health. Would you rather see an orthopedic surgeon in six months and be 99% confident that they have the expertise to replace your knee without botching the job, or would you rather see a surgeon in two weeks and have 90% confidence that they're not going to botch the job?