Do you get given results / diagnosis over the phone?

[Bingbong9009]

Had a biopsy 3 weeks ago on a mole and was told I’d get results via a letter in approx 8 weeks.

I now have a phone call appointment on Saturday evening.

Has anyone been given a diagnosis over the phone? I know it was common during Covid (obviously). I’m so scared and expecting the worst.

No they don't give canvcer results over the phone

Sorry chowtime, I beg to differ.

I was told that my endometrium biopsy had come back positive for cancer over the phone - although I was asked at the time if I was happy to get the results over the phone and agreed ( I live quite a way away from the hospital and it's a bit of a trek to get there to get given the results in person, and I wasn't offered the option of a letter).

Personally I would imagine it would be far better to be in a position to be able to ask questions, find out what the next steps needed (if any) are, from a telephone call than via a letter.

I can't imagine writing or getting a letter telling someone that they are positive for cancer, only clear of it.

Yes, the results of a breast biopsy as positive for cancer. Admittedly I’d been told it was almost certainly cancer at the repeat mammogram appointment, and this is the second diagnosis I’ve had.

Then an additional biopsy has led to a second results phone call.

I believe the phone results is standard procedure, and if positive includes discussion and arranging the follow up appointments. I’m in a fairly good place with these arrangements

No.
Face to face appt in the hospital.

They did to my DH. Rather floored him as he was at work at the time

Yes, OH was given his cancer diagnosis over the phone and I was recently given an "all clear" for breast cancer over the phone. But you have to ask - I don't think they do it routinely. In our cases, we just didn't want to have to go to an appointment, so told them in advance to phone us with the results, good or bad, and they obliged.

Years ago, when I had the amnio test during pregnancy, they were adament they'd tell us the result at a pre-booked consultation a couple of weeks after as they said they never gave results over the phone. But after a week, the midwife phoned me to tell me it was all clear and there was no need for the appointment - she said they said it was appointment only to reduce stress/anxiety of people thinking the worse if they were called for an appointment. Unfortunately, telling us that made it worse second time around as there was no phone call, so we went to the appointment fearing the worse, only to be told it was all clear - apparently they'd changed procedure in the couple of years between!

So I think it can be a bit of a lottery.

Thanks everyone for your responses. I’m just going to keep calm and try keep rationale 😅 at the end of the day, it’s bound to be ‘something’ seeing as I’m not just getting a standard letter. Feels like an awfully long wait.

Sorry you're going through this.

I had a mole removed many years ago and then I had a call two weeks later to say the gp wanted me to come in to discuss it. I was convinced it was bad news. Turned out the dr who had removed it had done a rubbish job and the sample was too small to say definitely if it was cancerous or not. But he wanted to see me to reassure me that I wasn't to worry and they were fairly sure it was benign. I haven't had any issues since and this was about 15 years ago!

Good luck on Saturday.

I’ve had cancer twice and DH has had cancer twice. We were told it was cancer face to face. But other results- such as surgery results etc were sometimes told over the phone. Though both my diagnoses were in Covid lockdowns, which might have made a difference.

I got my cancer diagnosed by letter. This was during covid lockdowns and there was no appointment offered to discuss the results or ask questions.
I then received a letter for a surgery date without any prior discussion.

This was all after 6-7 GP appointments, begging them for help, with them telling me I had anxiety! and refusing to refer me to a specialist. I was eventually referred for another reason and my cancer was picked up instantly by the consultant.

The treatment I received back then was disgraceful and I now have a fear of seeking medical help.

@MaryPuppin how awful that this was your experience. It’s shocking how some GP’s can so quickly fob off patients and state its anxiety etc. I hope you are seeking support x

I have bowel cancer and was given the results face to face but I recently had a biopsy for breast cancer and was given the negative result by phone.

I was told over the phone that my mole (which was completely removed during biopsy) had been an extremely early melanoma.....because it had all been removed with good margins, and because only a tiny area of the mole was cancerous, no further treatment/follow up was required, so maybe that was why it was a phone call rather than being called in..... so please try not to worry (easier said than done I know!)

I currently have breast cancer and was invited to an appointment at the hospital to be given that result and to discuss next steps.

Edit before posting: I've just seen the date you posted this and realised that you probably have your results by now.....I really hope all was ok. I will still post my comment in case it is of interest to anyone else!

I hope all is well OP