Would you be contacted sooner if a biopsy was needed?

[Whathefisgoingon]

I’ve been having on going investigations for some throat issues. So far clinical exam and ultrasound have been normal but ultrasound couldn’t see fully and found a small cyst, so MRI was recommended.

I found out about the MRI recommendation at my ENT follow up which was 2 weeks post ultrasound. I had the MRI last week and my appointment with ENT is next Weds, so 17 days post MRI.

I have read everywhere that no news is good news and they’d have called me in sooner if something urgent was found, but I’m finding it hard to relax as I’m worried I’ll go there and they’ll then tell me I need a biopsy and I’ll have to then wait to have that done!

in your experience, if an MRI/CT detects something that needs a biopsy, has this been acted on urgently?

V little is happening normally with the NHS in my area at the moment. Even at the best of times, different departments had different protocols and the need for further treatment, including a biopsy, might have to go before an MDT first. The MDT meets once a week. So bad news might take longer than no further action.

I'm waiting for results from the CT I had as part of my 3r review after surgery for colon cancer. The nurse in Radiology said that results would be sent to Colo-rectal in a week. Used to be 3 days. It was 3 weeks yesterday since my scan. 'But don't ring them up', she said.

You've got an appointment next week? So, whatever the results, I think they'd wait to tell you face to face.

Sorry! But putting the patient's mind at rest doesn't affect the outcome so other considerations take priority.

I have breast cancer and its quite variable at the moment re speed due to pressures on NHS but I was told at first appointment it was cancer. Hope yours comes back clear. In the meantime distract yourself if you can but easier said than done. Its good first tests did not show much.

Thanks for the replies and sorry to read you’re both going through a bit of a crap time!

So it could go either way then. Pretty shocking that they’d just let me come in to bad news 2 weeks later, and alone as well!