Hi everyone, I’m due to see the oncologist tomorrow about RT and was wondering whether or not I would also be getting my pathology report too. Indeed, do I actually get a report?
I’ve had no written correspondence from the hospital with regard to the 2 lots of WLE ops that i’ve had. I did request copies of letters that are sent but even my gp has precious little correspondence. So, what am I to expect tomorrow?
Lots of love to all
I’ve never been given anything either over the last year and just had general comments made to me about results - but last time I asked to see reports and was given copies. I think some hospitals decide to leave it up to us to tell them if we want all the details or not since some ladies might not want the info.
Hope things go well for you
Hi Lady M,
I asked for a copy of my pathology report and they copied it for me there and then. I also asked to be copied in on the letters that go to my GP after each appointment and that does happen (once I got my copy and GP didn’t get hers!). I wouldn’t have got it if I hadn’t asked. Not everyone does want to see their pathology report so I suspect that most places leave you to ask for it if you want it.
Breast Cancer Care do a good basic leaflet on understanding your pathology report and my bcn was also very happy to go through the finer points with me.
Eliza xx
Hi Eliza
I asked for a copy of my whole BC file. Surgeon said I had to write to the medical records people, who sent me a copy, and charged me £22.50. Surgeon said he could let me look at anything but to actually get a copy I had to do the letter. Was a trifle annoyed at this as what can they expect a person to remember from quick look.
Took more than a couple of weeks, which also irritated me, as I was trying to make the big decision based on the pathology results.
Good luck anyway.
S
I made a point of asking to be copied with all correspondence between consultant, oncologist, GP and anyone else, which generally happened. I didn’t automatically get a copy of the histology report but did when I asked for it.
I agree with the other comments made, that perhaps they don’t automatically give you copies because some people positively don’t want to know. But if you ask you should get, and shouldn’t have to pay for it.
Sarah x
Thank you ladies,
a gentle reminder is needed today I think and I will cheese the onc up and get as much correspondence as possible. I did ask to be kept in the loop at my last appointment but alas nothing. I won’t fret too much but i’ll keep asking.
Yes do keep working on it - I think the medics take a while sometimes to recognise to what each of us expect and can expect too in terms of knowledge about our treatments.
Hi
I’ve come to the end of my treatment and all the way through I received copies of all letters to my GP. I didn’t actually request this, but it was hospital policy to help keep you informed.
When I saw my surgeon after my second WLE I requested to have a copy of the path result as I was trying to get as much info as I could. I had written down the questions I needed to know (size of DCIS any invasive etc). She answered my questions and said if I really wanted a copy she could; but as I was due to be referred to Oncologist ref possible RT she suggested I ask them as they would o discuss results in as much detail as I wanted to help me decide whether to go for RT or not as she considered I was borderline.
She did write & confirm to me all the questions I had as I left a copy of them with her & explained it very well.
When I saw the Registrar to discuss RT she had my path report & went into the DCIS in a little bit more detail. In the end I didn’t get a copy but felt I no longer needed it as I had all the information & questions answered I needed; in fact as the letter from surgeon was written in less medical terms it was probably easier to understand. Having said that with DCIS I didn’t need any Nodes checked or whether hormone receptive etc so maybe mine was quite straightforward.
As you are going for RT I asked to see my treatment plan to understand what was happening which the RT team happily did. Not part of the Path report so you may want to see this when you start your sessions. Good luck, hope all goes well for you.
Take care
Lynne
Hi all
STUPID ME forgot to ask him about the report. I was told i’d need only 13 sessions over a period of 3 weeks or 5 weeks. I was also told to have a think about it and get back to them with my diary so we can sort out the dates of treatment. I will be receiving an appointment for about 2 weeks time to get a tattoo and such. I did say i wanted to try and work during this period so I may plump for the 5 weeks as they will be more spaced out. I’d rather treatment be spaced out than me!! I meet my gp next monday for a so called ‘CHAT’ to see how i’m doing healthwise and i’ll see if he’s had any more correspondence for me to look at.
Hi Lady M
Not stupid you at all, it’s so difficult to remember everything you want to ask about when there’s so much information you’re trying to take in. I often take a list of questions with me so I don’t forget anything.
Why not ring your consultant’s secretary and ask for a copy of the report? It might take a few days since she will have to ask him for permission to do that, but you should get it. I did that when I didn’t automatically get a copy.
Sarah x
I’ve received an appointment this morning for a CT scan on Wednesday 18th. That was quick. Then, I am scheduled to have my first treatment on the 1st June. I’ve been given a time for the first treatment of 2pm. I may just have a little word with them about that as my nurse had initially told me that I could request times. I requested to have an early morning appointment specifically because when i’m on my own the parking is an utter nightmare. I’d hate to miss an appointment because I had to wait for space in the designated area.
I think i’ll write everything down on a bit of paper for next week.
It’s a good idea to keep a notebook to write down any questions you have so you don’t forget them.
I have been treated at two different hospitals and both of them said that I couldn’t have a copy of my pathology report unless I wrote to the hospital to ask for it.
At the first hospital I made such a fuss that the nurse eventually phoned the records office and got the permission to give it to me. It added hugely to the distress of getting the results. Luckily I did get a copy - having to wait for me to send a request and them to get round to responding to it would have delayed my treatment a lot.
I do think that there should be a nationwide policy that if someone requests their pathology report they should be given a copy - it isn’t that much extra work! And it is information about you so you’re definitely entitled to see it. Having to wait to see it is just cruel in my opinion.
I took a list of questions to my second appointment and the consultant would not answer any of them. He was extremely rude - very unnecessary for such a stressful situation.
Having thought about this a bit more I think SimplesL made a good point when she said that a summary in less medical terms was easier to understand. I got copies of all letters from my onc and my surgeon to my GP and those letters all had a summary of my diagnosis at the top of the letter, which included all the important points. I felt that my onc hadn’t explained the diagnosis enough so asked for a 2nd opinion and that onc went through the full results with me and explained what it all meant, which was both helpful and reassuring.
It was only some months later that I asked for a copy of my full histology report, and received it, but a lot of it is over my head and I might have reacted badly if I had been given it at the beginning.
However, I still think that you should be entitled to receive a copy of the full report promptly if you ask for it, without unnecessary blocks being put in your way.
Sarah x