Hi
Can anyone help ? Am I entitled to my pathology report ? I did ask at my recent results meeting but the BCN looked quite surprised and said that they don’t give out the pathology reports but she could answer what I wanted to know ( Princess Royal Hospital Telford ). That didn’t really help as i really want to see my report, its something that i really need to see.
Did anyone else have problems obtaining it ?
Hope someone can help
lv Melx
Hi Mel
I asked for my path report and the consultant made such a thing about why should I want it and that I wouldn’t even be able to understand it. She said that all I needed to know was that I had a couple of lumps and that I was having appropriate treatment.
I was so shocked by her manner (as well as when she expressed such surprise to why I couldn’t possible want silicone implants when I had reconstruction) that I just cried. Despite the fact that I am quite a strong person I just felt so belittled.
However, following asking what the report said and also the oncs summary letter I know the main gist of the path report. Normally I would just keep saying I wanted the path report but have decided that when I am through chemo I intend to apply under the access to info and patient records for ALL of my medical notes since being at the hospital (this includes previous neg mammogram and gynae consults. I have to pay for this info, which I think for my pct is £50 but that will be the same cost whether fo one page or the whole of my notes.
I am aware that many others on here were given the reports no problems. Perhaps you might just want to say that if you dont get given freely, you will get them anyway by going through the access to records.
Karen x
Hi I do have a copy of the path report letter which was sent to my gp and he was happy to give me it but my oncologist and breastcare nurse did go through my path report and explain all what it meant with me when i asked and said i wanted to know . xx Julie
I asked my onc for a copy of my pathology report and he sent the nurse off to photocopy it there and then. It was fairly easy to understand with the help of Breast Cancer Care’s leaflet - I think it is called Understanding Your Pathology Report - which you can download from this site. There was one bit I wasn’t sure about so I googled the exact term and found not only the explanation but also a rather beautiful photo! i then checked it all out with my bcn just to ensure I’d understood it all.
Have you considered making a formal complaint about your consultant, Karen? Good plan to get all the copies at once for your £50!
Eliza xx
you have access to all your health reords but you may have to apply for them and the costs vary…
nhs.uk/chq/pages/1309.aspx?categoryid=68&subcategoryid=160
Lulu xxx
In my hospital, I just had to write a letter to the consultant requesting a copy of all test reports and letters and they were provided. There should not be any problem in them doing so, and you shouldn’t really have to pay for them either! Try writing a straightforward letter and see where that gets you.
Another suggestion is to be very nice to the SECRETARY and not just to the consultant. My surgeon’s sec and my onc’s sec have both been really helpful, and they’re the ones who actually prepare the letters.
Mel I asked for an appt to look through my pathology reports last Aug and sat down with my BCN to look at them and have them explained. She asked me if I wanted copies at that time I didn’t. When I saw my Onc in Jan I had some queries and he needed to refer back to my path report. Then he asked me if I would like copies. I did and he sent the nurse to get these photocopied. Throughout I have received copies of the letters sent to my GP regarding the consultations/treatments etc. and I was asked at the outset by the receptionist to sign a form so that I could receive these. You should not have to pay for them.Good Luck Jackie xx
I was sent mine through the post without asking for it. I ocasionally read it and find it comforting. It reminds me why my breasts had to go.
I asked my oncologist for a copy, and she printed it off there and then and sat and went through it all with me, to be certain I understood it all, and to answer any questions I might have. My personal opinion is that no one has a better right to see your path report than YOU! After all, who else is it more important to?? Push for it, under NHS guidelines, we are supposed to have access to all the information we need to be best informed over our own treatment - the days of being treated like mushrooms (fed s*it and kept in the dark) should be long past. Sounds like your hospital needs a wake up call.
Good luck hun
Sophie xx
Hi,
I asked my GP for a copy and it was sent out to me, she also provided an over the phone Q and A for me as i was back at work. You are entitled to see it - it’s your body after all!!
Good luck.
My GP hasn’t actually received it, just assorted letters. I know this because I asked. So it’s not just the patients who are given the mushroom treatment!
I have copies of all my scans etc and a full copy of my hospital notes. I paid £10.00 for the scans and £20.00 for the notes. To be honest there was nothing in there that i didnt already know. Im now waiting for an appointment to view my notes. Mainly because i dont trust anyone and like to know what is what. I just applied through hospital customer services.
hi
Went for my fec 3 yesterday and asked for my pathology report. No problems at all. Just went and printed it out there and then.
Maria xx