To think a Dr wouldn't give terrible news in a phobe consultation?

[siring1]

Had a biopsey a few weeks ago to check for cancer.

Has a phone call from GP receptionist saying I had a phone consulration j for Monday - tomorrow.

Would a GP give terrible news over the phone?

Biopsy

Sorry for many typos!
Shaking with worry.

I would be very surprised if they gave you bad news in a phone call.

Fingers crossed for you that all is well.

I’ve always been asked to come in for bad news, and if tests were normal or minor then told over the phone.

Good luck for tomorrow

I work in a hospital. In my experience, Drs prefer to give bad news in person.

Did the Receptionist phone you today though? On a Sunday?

It depends (I’m a GP).

I have given out bad news over the phone, but I only do that when I need to let the patient know as quickly as possible so that I can refer them immediately.

However, I would make sure that I had prepared the patient for this eventuality when I had seen them in the appointment before - I would explain very clearly why I was sending them for this test, and what I thought the outcome might well be. I wouldn’t just drop it as a bombshell with no warning whatsoever.

Phonecall was on Thursday.
Thanks for all your replies.
Thanks for sharing your experience Via.

Hopefully I'll update you tomorrow.

I’m a GP. I certainly would try very hard to avoid giving bad news over the phone. I think the only times when I might would be when we’d set this up in advance or if getting the news to the patient was time critical - as in “you need to go to hospital now because.....” I’d be surprised if someone had pre booked a phone appointment for 4 days away to give terrible news.

But I can totally understand your anxiety so hand holding anyway x

Thanks China

Feeling a bit better now. Don't want to relax too much just in case

No longer shaking - typing improving!

I got bad news by letter.

Sorry to hear that Dead.

Good luck op

Good luck. 🌷

Thanks all

My OH had a blood test and the GP phoned through once results came back to say it was abnormal and that he was making an urgent appointment with the hospital cancer dept. So, not actually saying it was definitely cancer, but clearly making it obvious that was the suspicion. Not sure why they'd waste an appointment and get the patient to take time off work and travel etc just to say that message face to face when it is quicker for everyone to do it by phone.

I was called once and asked to come in person a few days later and it was just a benign tumour, the GP wanted to explain to me what it was and just say that I would need a yearly scan.

Without wanting to give you false hopes, I’ve always thought that if something bad is found out, you find out pretty quickly. You’re saying the biopsy was a few weeks ago so fingers crossed for you.

Good luck tomorrow.

Another one wishing you good luck OP!

I have received bad news over the phone but in my case it was a time sensitive issue with a specialist who was only available locally on a weekly basis (a genetic test while pregnant) and I'd been asked several times during the test/consultation if I was happy to receive the results by phone. I've never heard of anyone else receiving any medical test results this way.

Have no experience OP but wanted to say fingers crossed for you

Good luck.hopefully something minor x

I’m a GP and have done for reasons above.
But unless it was the GP who took the biopsy id be surprised if it was them giving you the result, especially if not good news.

I agree very unlikely to be bad news over phone. Try and get some sleep now and see what they say tomorrow.

Good luck op, hope alls well.

Good luck op

Good luck OP.