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Tuesday, April 06, 2010 angela asks

Q: how long before my doctor gets my results for the biopsy I had taken?

hello I'm angela 31years old. I'm on hrt and have been on them now for 3 years and 9 months due to having a hysterectomy.  I had to have a biopsy on the breast as I have a lump 7 days ago and I am worried out of my mind, how long does it take for my doctor to get the results?

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Answers (1)
4/ 6/10 2:02pm

It my differ from hospital to hospital...but I guess 2 -3 working days is  pretty common..I had mine on 11/02 and heard back on 11/04.

 

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4/ 6/10 3:09pm

Hello there,

 

Thank you.. I had mine done on the 29th March in the afternoon. On the 1st April I got a letter saying go back on 2nd September for my results, as this is 5months wait, I phone the hospital as I don't think I can wait that long for my results, To which I was told that I was meant to back at the hospital that morning at 10 past 9 and I had missed it.. I did tell the women I didn't no what she was talking about as I had got the letter for the 2nd September. Anyway I then was asked how long would it take me to get to the hospital and I said within 30min, she told me she would phone me back and let me know what I should do within a hour. I waited for 2hours and she didn't call me back so I phone again and was told that they have sent my results out to my house by post. With that I knew I was going to have to wait and with it be Easter too I was only going to found out today will so I though. I got up this morning to bills not a letter from the hospital, so I though I should phone back as I hadn't got anything and I can't take anymore waiting.

I did phone back today and was told that my results are still not back yet!! So I then phoned my GP as I don't think this is right what is happening but it as made no different as I still don't no what my results are.  

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PJ Hamel, Health Guide
4/ 6/10 4:12pm

Hi Angela - Was this done at a hospital? If so, you might try calling the social workers there; or if there's a program devoted solely to breast issues, call there. Tell them you're severely stressed, and you need to know your bioppsy results ASAP, as you can't take any more waiting. They should be able to help you. If you can go in person, rather than try to do by phone, it works even better. Good luck - PJH

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Phyllis Johnson, Health Guide
4/ 6/10 7:41pm

I have also had trouble with not getting return calls from the doctor's office.  I've found it helps to ask when a test is done how long it will be before the results come back, how I will be contacted, and when I should call if I haven't heard.  I write all of that down and make sure I get the name of the person I am talking to.  Then if I don't hear in the expected time, I call and say "I had such and such a test done last Tuesday, the 21st.  Nurse so and so told me to call back if I hadn't heard by today."  Of course, your hospital has already given you a run around, but this may help with future test results. 

It's also good to ask when the nurse or doctor is most likely to call.  Many offices have set times when they return calls.

Your results have probably been delayed by the Easter weekend.  In the meantime, I'd suggest calling every morning and every afternoon and politely asking for your test results.  A combination of persistence and politeness is most likely to get you through the communication mix-ups that seem to happen when more than one person is involved in handling information.

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By angela— Last Modified: 12/26/10, First Published: 04/06/10