Update (ish): tongue biopsy - results coming back much faster than expected?

[vipersnest1]

I had this done on the 17th June. I was told to ring in six weeks to see if the results were back and to then make an appointment to get them.
i had a phone call yesterday, asking me to go in today to get the results.
I couldn’t go as I was overseas for work and only returned this evening. (Three and a bit weeks on.)
I’ve tried calling both the consultant’s secretary and the clinic itself but got answerphones.
My mind has gone into overdrive, wondering what’s going on.
Does anyone have any experience of this?
TIA

Please try not to worry. Think of it as a guy in a lab has thought he'd done you a favour by doing it quickly rather than let you worry. I hope everything goes well.

Thanks @healthybychristmas. It’s hard not to worry as I was already aware that things still aren’t right there. 😞

I had a tongue biopsy a few years ago. My results came back in 2 weeks. I really did worry as the drs looked worried. All was fine and just thickened skin.

@Foodoverload, that’s keratosis? So must have been mild then but I expect you will have checkups now?
Can you tell I’ve researched this to death? (No pun intended.)
I just want to know what I’m facing.

@Foodoverload, meant to say I’m pleased for you that all is well.

Results don’t come back quicker because they’re bad, they come back quicker simply because the department has looked at them sooner than expected. They don’t know if the biopsy is suspicious or not when the tissue arrives in the pot, it’s just processed and checked when someone is available to do it.

Just think of this as 3 weeks less time to worry about it.

Hope you get the news you want today. Stay positive.

There is a new twist in the tale…
I managed to get through to a secretary this morning to be told the earliest appointment I can now get would be the 1st August. She then said to give her time to look at my results and was then told they are trying to get me in with another consultant sooner.
It has not inspired me with confidence.

Well that’s a bit pants isn’t it. I’d have thought that if it was urgent, they wouldn’t be “trying” to get you in sooner but that you actually would be in sooner. Sending you positive vibes!

@FunderthighsI had a call later to say that they’ve got me an appointment for next week, but ‘there’s no urgency’???!
I can only think that while it’s not malignant at the moment it could be.
I’ve been thinking and thinking about it and this is the only reason that makes sense (and I’ve learnt a lot about keratosis). But, that might still mean I need to have part of my tongue removed.

sorry, that’s a bit garbled but hopefully the meaning is clear

Mine was just thickened skin. The biopsy removed it. I did smoke at the time. I gave up very soon and the patch disappeared. I had 1 follow up and that was it. They were surprised it was benign. But I waited 1 year for the biopsy.

I work in cancer so assumed it was ok.

seeing someone sooner doesn’t mean it’s bad. They have targets for waiting lists so they maybe rushing things through.

I’d keep the “no urgency” in the forefront of my mind. Easy for me to say, I know. I’m pleased to hear you’ve got an appointment next week. Be kind to yourself in the meantime. Sending you a ((hug)).

If they aren’t rushing you in, then I think that is probably pointing to a positive sign, but it sounds like you may still need follow up treatment of some sort.

To give you an indication, I have cancer. Was told 8 weeks for biopsy results. I nagged them regularly plus had additional symptoms (a further swollen lymph node). They got my results back 4 weeks and I was pulled in to an appointment the next day. It was a specialist nurse, not the consultant, who told me, as actually it’s the nurses who do a lot of care coordination.

… and dysplasia, which is what I’m thinking it is - the dentist mentioned it as a possibility.
The fact that suddenly there is an appointment available with my consultant (after the secretary saying she would take a look at my results) brings me to this conclusion. I’ve also told my DSis about it (she is a very experienced nurse and midwife) and she agrees that it is likely I need treatment of some kind rather than watch and wait.
It will be what it is, and I’ve always recognised that there is nothing I can do to change it, but I admit I’m scared - even if it is only moderate dysplasia I will still have to have part of my tongue removed.

I’m really sorry for all the worry you are going through with this. The waiting must feel torturous.

I had an MRI scan which was bad news. Originally I was told that the report would be sent to my consultant within 5 working days. I got out about 3pm (to be honest, I knew it was bad news as soon as I came out of the scanner as the atmosphere in the room had completely changed). The consultant called me just before 8am the following morning as I was about to get in the shower. She confirmed my suspicions there and then. Said to make my way into the hospital straightaway and she’d arrange to fit me in that morning to come up with a plan. I had a counsellor phone that day as well.

Everything crossed for you.

It’s the waiting that’s the worst bit. I’m sorry….,hang on in there 🤞

How are you getting on?

I've just been told today that I need a tongue biopsy and it's booked for this Friday 16th. I'm praying for tongue frictional keratosis. Paying privately for all of this so it's been speedy so far.

Supposed to be going on holiday for 18 nights on Monday 28th July and have no idea what to do now. Will the results be back in a week or not?

I have had a few biopsies which were said to take 6 weeks but the earliest once came back within 10 days. All was good.

Good luck.

@KipperandarthurI suspect that might be a bit of a push, but hope you do t have to wait too long.

Well, I had the appointment today…..
It’s good news. No gross abnormalities but, I’m still a bit bemused by it all:
It’s a chronic fungal infection!!! 😵‍💫 I have got antifungals for two weeks and will get an appointment in two months for a follow up if things haven’t settled.
I can only guess that the presentation was unusual or surely the dentist or consultant would have noticed?
I’m still calming down to be honest - I felt quite stalwart in myself but was shaking like a leaf and also had a totally numb face (anxiety / fibromyalgia, no clue which) prior to my appointment.

Oh I am so happy for you! ❤️

I'm really pleased and happy for you. What a relief.

Fabulous news (op, don't know how I put this as a quote ... message was intended for you).

This is great news!