Test results after colonoscopy

[Chippy1234]

Hi, does anyone know how long test results take to come back after NHS colonoscopy please?

Is it a few weeks or less?

It might depend on why you had it. I know that if you have one on the 2 week cancer pathway after over 55 Fiit test screening it takes about a week, or at least it did with mine. They phoned me to tell me but didn’t follow up in writing.

A relative had one earlier this month and they found a lump which was biopsied. CT scan the following week, MRI the week after. Biopsy results were communicated after a couple of weeks, results of other scans to be discussed at appointment 3 weeks after CT and a couple of weeks after MRI. It's definitely cancer in this case - I don't know if that makes a difference.

DH was told on the day of the colonoscopy, but it was all clear.

I got a brief run down after it. They took a biopsy and I think I waited about 3-4 weeks for a letter.

Mine was done privately but I was told there & then I had a tumour that looked cancerous & they took biopsies. I would imagine even via the NHS they would tell you straight after if they saw anything concerning? I might be wrong though.

I was told the result 10 mins after the colonoscopy, as soon as I was fully dressed. Thankfully it was the all clear.

The lady waiting next to me, I suspect her result was not so good as she was told her result would only be given when her family member arrived to join her in the consultation.

Immediately after the colonoscopy you get a debrief, photos and a written report. If anything is sent for biopsy it takes a couple of weeks to get results

It likely depends on what they suspect it is…

After being hospitalised with a severe bowel infection and constant bleeding I got sent home and had colonoscopy 6 weeks later (once things had calmed down). I was told would be 6-12 weeks for my biopsy results (dependant on how long it took to grow the samples enough for testing - they took a lot of biopsies).
Eventually got the ‘results’ 4 months later despite an urgent referral by my GP back to the hospital and actually ended up being hospitalised for the second time the day after getting a letter advising IBD but no actual info on specifically what. The a&e doctor had to request full info on the results and I only got told while in hospital it was ulcerated colitis.

I should probably have said that at my colonoscopy they removed a polyp but told me there and then that they thought it wasn’t suspicious (they tend to know what they’re dealing with). They sent it off for analysis and it took a week to get the confirmation that it was benign.