Waiting for biopsy results

gingermops · 2025-01-11T11:44:29+00:00

I'm currently waiting or biopsy results after a hysteroscopy for endometrial cancer. Can barely function as just so nervous. How long does it usually take, and do you get a phone call if it's cancer or do they send a letter to tell you too?

Daisy03 · 11/01/2025 12:23

You should get a letter on phone call inviting you to a follow up appointment, you'll get the news face to face.

Daisy03 · 11/01/2025 12:24

Letter or phone call that should say

P00hsticks · 11/01/2025 12:36

Sorry you are going through this - I think in many ways the waiting in the unknown is the worst bit. Once you know exactly where you are and what the plan is, even if it's not what you wanted to hear, it's more manageable to deal with.

I'm a little bit further down the road than you - I suspect it will vary from region to region and trust to trust but I had my hysteroscopy in early November last year and was told the biopsy results would take 3-4 weeks but they actually came through more quickly - around a fortnight later. I was given the result over the phone, but I had been asked if I was happy to have them do that rather than in a face to face appointment and opted for the former as we are a fair distance away from the hospital. I think they would only inform you by letter initially if the result was ok, otherwise they want to give you the opportunity to talk about it and ask any questions. I have since been copied into letters from the hospital gynae team to my GP to keep them in the loop.

Unfortunately mine biopsy did show cancer, so the next steps were an MRI scan arranged over the phone within a few days, followed by a face to face appointment shortly after after the results had been discussed in the MDT meeting to go through options and sign consent forms (in my case, for a hysterectomy which I've now just had - and again I've been give a likely 3-4 week timescale to get the pathology results back after that ).

Original poster

gingermops · 13/01/2025 08:54

@P00hsticks hello. Thank you very much for your response. I am really sorry to hear your diagnosis. How are you doing? Are they hopeful it can be treated by hysterectomy alone?

Hope you are okay.

I just rang the hospital who said the result have just come in but she couldn't tell me over the phone until the consultant had seen them. Now I think I have caused myself more worry.

OP posts:

P00hsticks · 13/01/2025 16:46

Hi @gingermops. Sorry for what you are going through. I'm recovering well from my op, but still waiting to hear the pathology results from what was removed and whether they'll recommend any further treatment - I don't expect to hear for a few weeks yet.

The person you spoke to on the phone probably wasn't qualified to interpret the results ,but it's good to hear that they are back in so you shouldn;t have much longer to wait to hear.

I will keep my fingers crossed for you - feel free to ask any more questions. If it does turn out to be cancer, then the womb cancer forum on the Macmillan website is also a good place to hear from others who have been though or are going through what you are
Womb cancer forum | Macmillan Online Community

LuluBlakey1 · 13/01/2025 16:52

I had the same tests before Christmas and the agreement was the consultant would ring 7 days after the hysteroscopy with the biopsy results. She did and they were fine- a letter arrived confirming that just after Christmas.
I found the whole process incredibly anxiety-making but try to remember 93-94% of biopsies taken during hysteroscopies are benign. I hope you get good results.
An admin person can not give you the results - the consultant will look at them and check them and you will either get a call from the Dr, a letter or an appointment- whatever the system is where you are.

LuluBlakey1 · 13/01/2025 16:56

P00hsticks · 11/01/2025 12:36

Sorry you are going through this - I think in many ways the waiting in the unknown is the worst bit. Once you know exactly where you are and what the plan is, even if it's not what you wanted to hear, it's more manageable to deal with.

I'm a little bit further down the road than you - I suspect it will vary from region to region and trust to trust but I had my hysteroscopy in early November last year and was told the biopsy results would take 3-4 weeks but they actually came through more quickly - around a fortnight later. I was given the result over the phone, but I had been asked if I was happy to have them do that rather than in a face to face appointment and opted for the former as we are a fair distance away from the hospital. I think they would only inform you by letter initially if the result was ok, otherwise they want to give you the opportunity to talk about it and ask any questions. I have since been copied into letters from the hospital gynae team to my GP to keep them in the loop.

Unfortunately mine biopsy did show cancer, so the next steps were an MRI scan arranged over the phone within a few days, followed by a face to face appointment shortly after after the results had been discussed in the MDT meeting to go through options and sign consent forms (in my case, for a hysterectomy which I've now just had - and again I've been give a likely 3-4 week timescale to get the pathology results back after that ).

Edited

Good luck with the results.

Original poster

gingermops · 16/01/2025 11:45

I called the hospital, they said the results came back on Friday but they could not give me them over the phone. What is the hold up? Very anxious now.

OP posts:

ihatetaxreturns · 16/01/2025 11:57

I just wanted to offer a hand to hold as I went through this a year ago . As others have said though the vast majority of womb biopsies will be benign - if it's for a thickened endometrium this is really common in women 40+ and often due to peri

It took about 8 weeks for my results I was absolutely in bits waiting

But All was fine

Original poster

gingermops · 16/01/2025 12:11

@ihatetaxreturns thank you. I have abnormal and very heavy bleeding as well as thickened lining, but I'm a bit younger than 40. Ahh that's so long!! Glad you're results were okay :)

OP posts:

P00hsticks · 16/01/2025 13:18

gingermops · 16/01/2025 11:45

I called the hospital, they said the results came back on Friday but they could not give me them over the phone. What is the hold up? Very anxious now.

Most probably they want to discuss the results at the next weekly MDT (multi-disciplinary team) meeting to decide what the best way forward is, and you'll be told when that's taken place.....

ihatetaxreturns · 16/01/2025 14:43

gingermops · 16/01/2025 12:11

@ihatetaxreturns thank you. I have abnormal and very heavy bleeding as well as thickened lining, but I'm a bit younger than 40. Ahh that's so long!! Glad you're results were okay :)

Even under 40 is not worrying

It's more concerning if women are post menopause

I'm sure all will be okay but the waiting is horrid isn't it xxx

StrugglingAsAlways · 16/01/2025 14:47

Hoping everything is ok OP. Keeping fingers crossed it’s just bureaucracy which is holding things up.

ihatetaxreturns · 16/01/2025 14:48

Oh and @gingermops

I also almost forgot to add - I called up to ask for results after about 3 weeks. I spoke to a nurse and they said exactly same - that they'd come in but they couldn't tell me them over the phone until the consultant had seen them

Oh my god it was horrible

I was on holiday in the Caribbean at the time and honestly it almost ruined my holiday. I'd only rang them because in the night (but daytime British time) I'd had a missed call and voicemail from an unknown number. But my network provider did not allow me to access voicemail while away. So I rang the hospital in case that's who had called me - and that's when they said they had results but I wasn't allowed to know them

(And to add to it - When I got back - I checked and Turned out was a pointless call from my daughter's school...and Tbh it still pisses me off now as if I hadn't have seen a voicemail I wouldn't have chased my results! )

Anyway that was a long story but as I say I do get the worry but not being given them on the phone doesn't necessarily mean anything bad x

Doglover36 · 26/01/2025 12:10

Hi, i am due to go for a biopsy on Tuesday this will be my 2 nd in had on 5 years ago due to heavy bleeding my lining was 19mm. Biopsy came back negative but iud coil was inserted and lining reduced in thickness.. i have now been in menopause for around 2 years and started bleeding and also blood in urine. Discharge..my doctor said since it had stopped dont worry so i chased it up with the hospital and gynaecologist now wants a biopsy with the bleeding.. the bleeding wasnt heavy lasted around 2 weeks just when i went to the toilet for a pee..with the coil in could it still let the lining grow after 5 years?
very worried again..