I’m a newbie here, although been lurking and reading posts for a week now. Thought it was time I popped up to say hello.
Like many of you I am awaiting biopsy results and feeling frustrated by the wait. I had my mamo and ultrasound 12 days ago. The ultrasound found a solid mass and they immediately took 2 biopsies. I was told the results would take a week to come back, not to panic if they came back sooner, and if I hadn’t heard within a week to phone up.
I did phone after 7 days only to be told the results weren’t back and anyway when they do return they need to first be discussed at a team meeting before I’m notified, and the meetings are only held once a week. So depending upon when the results return I could be waiting up to 3 weeks before hearing anything.
Is this what other people experience? I can’t understand why they originally quote a week only to give you a more accurate time frame when you phone.
It can be stressful waiting but somehow I could’ve dealt better with the waiting if I had been given the correct waiting time to begin with if that makes sense. I am being positive as I know the odds are in my favour that 80% of masses are benign.
With the best will in the world I know all of us waiting play the guessing game, and pointlessly try to find answers before getting the official one. So humour me, how long has everyone else had to wait for their results and I wonder if there is some correlation between time waiting and type of result received. I do have a dry sense of humour and I feel as if Im stuck in a weird version of the 12 days of Christmas waiting to see what each day possibly brings!
I had a lump back in the summer. I had it last year, mammo, ultrasound. All ok but if it gave me gip to go back. I went back to the GP in the summer and finally got an appointment with the breast clinic on 3Dec. I had two FNA biopsies, one on the left where my lump was and then the doc told me I had another one on the other side and did that one too. This was all on the same day. They also told me that the results go to a Team Meeting and I went back on 13 Dec for the results. Tomorrow (Dec 23rd) I have an appointment for further imaging and they have said they will be referring this to a specialist in another town with the possibility of another but different type of biopsy. As well as the lump, I have a lump, focused deep micro calcifications on right breast and fibro cystic changes through out both. This is what they are concerned about and are working out what to do.
So time scales wise let us see, so far 6 months I guess. In some ways, this could mean that what ever it is it is not too serious although the last month has speeded up considerably.
I dont know if they take a break from these things over xmas and if so, I am guessing I will be well in to January before I actually know what I am dealing with.
The waiting is very very hard Franky. I have been up and down like a yo yo. One minute feeling positive and getting on with life, the next panic and dispare. Although I have side issues like my husband and I separated in November, diagnosed with hypothyroidism last year and now suspected MS too.
Keep posting on here. It can be very theraputic and there are some wonderful people on this site and Macmillan community who have been where we are now and understand how it feels.
By the sound of it you will probably cope better than I have with your humour.
Also, ring them again and keep ringing or go and ask your GP if he has recieved a letter.
Waiting is just awful!I went for mammogram and biopsy on 23rd December, and a 2.5cm lump was confirmed in my right breast, and a smaller one was discovered in my left breast…after the biopsy and ultra-sound I was told that - because of Christmas - I would need to wait until 15th January for the outcome of the tests - ie Christmas wiped out a week, because of NHS cutbacks!!! The Consultant was honest and upfront,and very cross that I had to wait so long…
So, difficult Christmas!
My daughter gave birth to my first grand-daughter on the 17th December, and - obviously I did not want to spoil her, or anyone else’s Christmas - so, on went the brave face, and I am just keeping soooo busy, but I do feel very tired lots of the time…
We can only hope that the results are not too devastating, and I wish you well. It really seems unacceptable to me that we have to wait so long; the NHS is really struggling, and - although I believe that my hospital gives good care - at least in the breast cancer unit - it is just worrying to see things seeming so slow. Very best wishes to you,
Hi 23Dec and welcome to the BCC forums, along with the shared support here our helpliners are on hand with further practical and emotional support so please feel free to call on 0808 800 6000, lines open weekdays 9-5 and Saturday 10-2 to talk things over