I had my chemo before surgery for breast cancer. The surgery was 6 weeks ago and they still have no pathology results. Surely this can't be right ...it's driving me mad.
Waiting for pathology results is often a worrying time and a lot of people contact us to ask how long should they have to wait for them to come through.
But pathology waiting times in the NHS can vary depending on the workload and staffing in local laboratories. Unfortunately, we cannot tell you exactly how long you will have to wait to get your results as there will be some regional variations in different NHS Trusts.
But, if you don't hear anything by next week, then do ask your GP to enquire, or ring the specialist/consultant secretary. If you have access to a specialist nurse you could discuss this further with them.
Hospitals will do their best to address any concerns patients have about their care. You may find it helpful to contact the hospital's Patient Advice and Liaison Service ( PALS) to discuss your concerns about the wait.
There is no easy way to get through the waiting times, but many people tell us that keeping busy and sticking to a routine can help a little.
I hope you know more soon. Give us a ring if you would like to talk anything over. The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.
