Waiting to have a biopsy

I have had a speedy referral to a specialist consultant because of possible, if not probable cancer. The matter is urgent and three weeks ago an urgent referral was made for me to have a biopsy that would help settle the matter or whether I have cancer and I guess later, if I do, whether it has spread. I had an MRI scan within days of seeing the consultant. However there has now been a three-week silence around the urgent request for a biopsy. My understanding is that time is of the essence in a case such as mine.

Any idea how long is the norm for a biopsy to take place? Or what I can do if the doctors who referred me are unable to budge this hospital that seems to be unhurried by the words ‘urgent’ and ‘lesion’? 

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  • Hi it must be awful having to wait all this time before you even get a Biopsy ,if I was you I would certainly be in touch with the Hospital on Monday to find out if they can tell you when it will be sometimes things do get missed at such a busy time ,there's no harm in ringing up and asking ,I hope you get something sorted soon .

  • Thank you Jenny. I will have my second appointment with the original consultant on Monday morning, (such a waste of time as we expected to have some useful results by then. Maybe they can give me somewhere else to go if they haven’t managed to budge this recalcitrant other hospital from its stony silence). Also they probably have to operate to remove the lump whatever so maybe can plan for that and do the biopsy then. (All speculation, I have had plenty of time to google every aspect of the possibilities!)  I also have a pre-op sister in another hospital pushing for me because I am meant to have a hip replacement soon and no plans can be made there either until I know what treatment I will have. Thanks again.

  • Well at least things are moving albeit slowly ,some of the Hospitals are very slow at this time for a few different reasons ,I hope things go as well as possible on Monday you sound very prepared for all possibilities you just need some answers so you can move on either way .

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