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Awaiting biopsy results

Samd87
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Hi,  I had am excision biopsy performed last week to have a mole removed.  I first noticed the mole had started bleeding and scabbed over approx 6 month previous but thought nothing of it.  It never really healed properly and was itchy, soI'd itch it,  it would scab over then  partially heal,  become itchy again, and the cycle would continue. Me itching it knocking the scab off,  part healing again etc etc.  Had it looked at at doctors and was eventually referred on the fast track Pathway to have it removed 2 weeks later.   Its now been removed and they said results could take up to 10 weeks!!! 

 

Has anyone else experienced this length of time to get biopsy results?  I thought that seemed a very long time.  Since then I received a letter from the dermatology consultant that I seen.  In the letter addressed to my GP (I was just sent a copy of it for some reason) the Consultant mentions 'Aktinic Keratosis' suspected on another part of my body after my examination.  This was the first I had heard of this and it wasn't disclosed to me at the time.  Upon googling it, it seems that term means 'pre cancerous' skin.   I first noticed the mole 6 months ago approx,  it took me about 4 weeks to get seen by a doctor,  then I was told to try a steroid antibacterial cream for 2 weeks.  Then I went back and  only at this stage did he then he refer me to have it biopsied. The cream made no difference.  2 weeks later I was seen by dermatology to examine me.  2 weeks after that appointment I was back in for the surgery for the excision biopsy.  Then told up to 10 week wait for result.  I mean,  if it does come back as cancerous that would be 11 months since I first noticed it to being diagnosed.  That ls a worryingly long time to me. 

 

So I have 2 questions really

 

1. Has anybody else experienced a 10 week wait time for excision biopsy results.  Part of me is hoping they are not too worried about me and therefor mine is taking longer? Or is that because the NHS is so so far behind and struggling that this is the new norm? 

2. Has anybody discovered diagnosis or something wrong via letter after an appointment that was not disclosed to you at the time?  

  • Offline

    My son had a biopsy taken during an endoscopy and his results took 3 months. They say no news is good news. He was initially told it would be 4 weeks. His results were normal.

  • Hello Samd87 and thanks for posting, 

    I am sorry to learn that you are waiting for biopsy results and appreciate that this can be an unsettling time.

    Anecdotally we have heard that some people are waiting for a few months to get biopsy results, time scales seem to vary and they might have something to do with local capacity in the laboratories that examine tissue. It may be that some biopsies are flagged as being more urgent than others depending on the clinical examination and the specialist's impression of what is going on, but this isn't something that we can confirm. I am not sure what the dermatologist said at the time, but as you have some concerns it might be possible to speak to them again, you can ask to by leaving a message with their secretary through the hopsital switchboard. 

    As a general rule, I think it is unusual to find out something that wasn't disclosed at the time of a consultation in the letter that consultants send to GPs afterwards. Patients are often copied into these letters, but because they are written in medical language they can sometimes baffle or trigger alarm. Usually the letter is a medical summary of what a patient has already been told.  

    In case it might be useful, The British Association of Dermatologists have a leaflet on actinic keratosis which you can read at this link.  

    Hospitals have Patients Advice and Liaison Services (PALS), you can read about them here   They can help people with concerns about their health care so you could think about contacting them.

    Please give us a call if you want to talk anything over. Our number is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and we are around weekdays, 9-5. 

    Best wishes, 

    Julia

  • Offline in reply to CRUK Nurse Julia

    Thank you Julia for your response,  the area they are saying is Aktinic Keratosis wad mentioned at the appointment.  The dermatologist asked what it was,  I just said a dry patch of skin I think I've been picking at sub-consciously.  She just said to moisturise it.  And that was it, no mention of Aktinic Keratosis or anything like that until I seen it in the letter afterwards.  

    Well hopefully then they can send off some biopsies for a faster return than others and that might mean they were not too worried about mine after they seen it when cutting it out.  Gives me something to be more positive about anyway because it has been playing on my mind.  Just have to wait and see.  Thanks again for your response and for the information you have provided.  

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