MRI results - so scared

[AncientMoo]

I'm waiting for an MRI results for a liver mass. Previous ultrasound in January identified it as a ? hemangioma (which is a benign and fairly common thing in middle aged women, which I am). But they requested an MRI on it for "further characterisation" as it was "quite large".

MRI was 10 days ago. On Friday just gone I got an appointment letter for the consultant, in person, next Tues (so 9 days from now, nearly 3 weeks after the scan). I'm basically shitting myself. All other results have come by post or on the phone. I feel like it can only be bad news and am convinced it's desperately bad (if the "quite large" mass is liver cancer, I think it'll be pretty hard to treat. I don't know what else they'd call me in for. They haven't shared the MRI results or the CA19-9 / CEA (cancer marker) blood test I had the same week on the NHS app or in the letter.

I'm trying to hold it together for DH & DCs (primary age) but the moment I'm by myself, panic takes over and I'm a sobbing mess. I don't actually think I can get through the next week or so without breaking down. I don't know how I can work or function at this level of anxiety. I can't even tell myself it's irrational fear, because I'm not sure it is.

Not sure what I want from posting here. Just some of the worry out of my head, I guess.

I might call the consultant office tomorrow and see if I can get a telephone appointment sooner than the 4th. I think I'd rather get bad news that way than live at this level of anxiety for another week and a bit.

So sorry you're going through this worry.

I might well be wrong, but I'd be surprised if they let you wait 9 days if it was cancerous.

The great news is that - whatever it is - you and they are on top of it and you will shortly have a plan.

Knowledge is power.

Thanks Dazzy. That helps. Crossing my fingers you're right about the wait. I know you're right about the knowledge. X

DH had his CT scan results brought forward and given in person, it was clear so I don't think severity always equals speed.

Plus that timescale isn't that fast.

Hopefully it's nothing serious.

Think it's normal to get an appointment even when it's nothing to worry about.

As far as I'm aware an MRI cannot diagnose liver cancer - that would require a biopsy. The appointment may be to discuss liver biopsy (which is used to diagnose lots of things not just cancer).

This is anecdata, but when I've been given really seriously bad news from scans I was brought in within days, not weeks. The timescale you mention has been for negative-but-not-catastrophic news or where they need me to agree to more tests.

Echo what everyone else is saying, and they may also want to remove whatever it is, so follow up might be about that. Having said that, I do think it’s worth giving them a call to see if you can get any insight. Handhold from me. This kind of waiting is awful.

Also, sometimes they wait to give you results in person so they can explain things to you that might have frightened you if you'd seen them in a letter/online without proper context or explanation.

Sorry you're so worried, it must be really difficult. Can I ask why you had the original liver ultrasound? What was being investigated? What were your symptoms?

We've sadly had a couple of cancer diagnoses in the family in recent months - the timeframes for appointments to discuss results were much swifter than this. I know that won't take all the anxiety for you - but hopefully it helps.

Thanks all for taking the time to post. I'm slightly reassured to read that in person appt isn't necessarily bad news and have managed to calm down a lot, I was a muddle this afternoon. Really appreciate it.

@Hohofortherobbers no symptoms. I had elevated CA125 in early Dec (I'm tested annually as part of a screening programme) and they spotted the mass on liver in the ovarian scan - which was clear except a uterine adenomyosis (another common middle aged woman issue) which could have caused the CA125 jump and my level has since gone back to normal. I guess there's more than one thing going on and the investigation has been going on a while which might be another reason to have called me in.

Sorry to hear about your family diagnoses@IdPreferProsecco . Thanks so much for posting. I hope they are doing ok with treatment.

I had my appointment today and as you all said, it was to give me the 'all clear' from the scan and ask me some follow up questions regarding monitoring my blood tests for a bit longer.

I did actually manage to pull myself together after posting here, as it did seem like a long wait to be seen if the results were bad. Thanks to all who posted.

Great news, easy to panic
I also had raised CA125 and liver mass/mark popped up on CT scan. Had MRI to investigate further, benign fibro something or other.
I'm also middle aged, must be a thing!

Such good news, so pleased for you

So please you got the all clear

They found one on my kidney . I did have an appointment but the consultant wasn't worried. I'd never heard of it before.