To ask if it's a bad sign when biopsy / pathology results take ages?

[hoolydooly]

Just that really. Waiting on pathology results from an op done on 13th. How can it take so long?? Is it a bad sign - ie are they working out treatment plans, etc, or is it a good sign as they would be in touch sooner if it was a bad result...or is it no sign at all and this is just how long it takes, especially right now with Covid...? Help!

I don’t know the answer for sure, but if it’s anything like maternity test results a delay is a good thing - I’ve been told that if there is a problem with things like blood tests I will be told about it within a few days, but if everything is fine it might take a few weeks for the results to come back. Hopefully it is the same for you, though I appreciate the wait must be very stressful.

It’s not a sign of anything at all. I had biopsy, results took 3.5 weeks, came back as “inconclusive” (ie sample wasn’t good enough to test.

Agree. Not positive or negative. Just annoying and usually down to system or administrative errors or bottlenecks.

Thanks, folks.
Looks like I shouldn't read too much into it then.
Just wish they would say how long it will take so I am not a nervous wreck waiting!

They wouldn't start working out "treatment plans" without calling you in first.

If they had found something nasty everything would have accelerated. Generally with test results "no news is good news" applies (or at least "no news is neutral news" ).

Every time I've had bad news from tests I've been dragged in as fast as they can get me there.

I’d see it as a positive, the one time I had a serious problem I was called back to discuss the results the very next day. I always feel slightly relieved when results take a while to get back to me.

I'd say it's the opposite actually.

I hope you get good news op

I would say it's a good sign. Everyone I know that has been diagnosed with cancer was recalled within a week of their scan/biopsy etc.

Year ago when I worked in NHS admin we got pathology results back on a daily basis in two bundles. The first bundle would be what we called the 'flagged' bundle and they had to be processed asap - passed straight over to the relevant consultant and an appointment issued out to the patient. The second bundle was the 'to file' bundle, they would go into a file box and we would work through them in date order in between other tasks for example, if it was our turn to be on the clinic helpline we would complete pathology results letters in between calls.

So in my experience at least, no news is good news.

Thanks for the new replies.
I really do hope it's a good sign.
But maybe because the thing was removed in the op, there is no urgency to report back even though it might be bad news... overthinking here...!
I can see why they would report back on bad biopsies quickly because then they need to act quickly but perhaps they don't rush so much if the op removed the offending lump or bump.