Will I receive my biopsy results in post?

Hi, This is my first time for ever posting anywhere, so forgive me if doesn’t make much sense. I will start off with saying im only 28 with no family history of bc and every time i see a doctor i get reminded of this and told that it’s probably just tissue and nothing to worry about. i found a lump on Friday 22nd Oct 2010 at the top my right breast, it feels abit like a mini chicken fillet(lol) My breast has also felt a little bit a achy and swollen but not all the time.
I went to see my gp on the Mon 25th Oct, where she told me to keep an eye on it and come back after my mental cycle if still there. so i went back after my cycle as it was still there, but she again said about my age and no family BC and sent me away again to come bk in 2 weeks. i went back on Fri 26th Nov and she referred me to breast clinic , i got a phone call about a week later to tell me my appointment was on Thurs 9th Dec, i went to the appoint where i got told again i was young and as i have no family history of BC that it wont be BC, she examined me could feel the lump and did a biopsy, she said she is putting it through as non urgent and to make appointment for 6 wks. i asked the nurse how i get my results she said they will be sent to me by post but i may not get the before my appointment. My appointment is not until the 4th Feb 2011 " is it right that i have to wait all this time? and has anyone else received results in post? i am so worried despite being told not to , it’s just on my mind all the time. I hope some one can help me please . jodie xxx

Hi Jodie

Welcome to the BCC forums, I am sure you will receive lots of support and help soon from your fellow forum users. In addition, you may find it useful to call our helpline where you can talk through your concerns with someone in confidence.

The line is open 9-5 weekdays and 9-2 Sat on 0808 800 6000.

Take care
Lucy

I am so sorry you are in this position. The waiting for results really is the most awful thing. I am surprised you are having to wait six weeks - it seems a very long time. Do give your BCN a call and see if you could get them any sooner, it is stressful enough as it is without having so long to wait.
I do hope that you get good news soon.

Best wishes

Hi Jodie - this is rotten for you, the waiting is the absolute pits. I can’t believe you have to wait so long for biopsy results, that just seems wrong to me. I think that this may be time to stand up and start shouting… yes, the odds are in your favour, being young and with no family history (although family history is always said to be only a small indicator, and women, sadly do get bc young… so it’s not an excuse for them to use).

It can really go against the grain to make a fuss - but for your peace of mind, please do. Phone the breast care nurse, or phone the breast care department and tell them how distraught you are - things CAN move faster than this. It almost makes no odds whether the lump is benign or not at this stage - it is the uncertainty that is so devastating, and you can and should be treated better than this. You are also within your rights to ask for a second opinion, or to even transfer to another hospital.

I’m not trying to imply that there is anything wrong - but I would not be standing for this sort of run-around, and I want you to understand that you are right to be so upset, and you DO deserve more.

Good luck sweetie, let us know how you get on.

Sophie xxxx

Thank you for understanding and your advise, i have taken comments on board and I’m going to phone the clinic on Friday if i still haven’t heard anything. The nurse did say that the result will be sent by post and i may or may not get them before my appointment, is it normal practise to receive them in post? I just keep praying they going to come through the door each day. “Thanks again” Jodie x

Hello,

I have had a very similar experience to yours. The waiting was really distressful, so my husband got on the phone and rang around until he got some answers. He managed to ring one of the BC clinic nurses and she told him the result over the phone. This was about a week after the test was performed. I still haven’t got an appointment through for the ultrasound scan and mammogram, but the Radiography Dept said that cases are prioritised each Monday. So, as my results showed that it was non-urgent, I’d be seen in the New Year. However, I think that if the result had shown concern, they’d have called me back in very quickly. I have an appointment on the 10th Jan to see the BC nurse at the clinic, but they told me that everything would be done by then.

So, maybe not being recalled sooner may indicate that you may be a non-urgent case too. My needle test was in line with fibroadenoma. I’m 35 and with only a distant relative who had BC. I think that if the NHS made their protocols more transparent, it would take a lot of the worrying out of it. It’s the not knowing that is so distressful. Once my husband found out that they looked at the cases from the non-urgent category on a Monday, I was able to stop waiting for the dreaded phonecall until then, but of course still worried I’d get that urgent phonecall too. Anyway, I hope you have managed to obtain your test results and I’m sorry you are in this horrible position too.

I forgot to say that it has now been 3 weeks and I have not received a letter in the post to confirm my results.