Waiting for mums endoscopy biopsy results.

Hi all,

My mum went for an endoscopy on Sunday after being refered  as urgent by her gp the week before after telling him she suffers with pain when swallowing and a pain in her chest. She told me she has suffered with this for the last year but didn't tell anyone until recently as her symptoms have got worse.

When she returned she initially told me nothing was wrong but then confessed when she came round she was told by the doctor that he found something he didn't like the look of, biopsies were taken and he told my mum it was a lesion. She asked what a lesion was and he said a mass. Her memory at this point is hazy due to the sedation and she is unable to remember everything. She thinks he said something about other departments being in touch and she would recieve the results within two weeks. She also thinks the word carcinoma was used while the endoscopy was performed but she has no idea in what context it was used or even if she is accurate with remembering this.

 

She is only 62 and I am worried the doctor was implyiny cancer to my mum without directly saying it.  I think the waiting is affecting me more than my mum! Her dad (my grandad) died of esophogeal cancer 2 years ago which I don't think helps my worry.

I just wanted to know of others experiences with having an endoscopy and if they were told directly after whether their doctors weren't happy with what they saw and how it was worded to them. 

I also wanted to ask people how long it took them to get their biopsy results.

Thank you

  • Hello. Came across this post last night as been on this page a lot recently and no how scary it is waiting for results. Just hope this might help I had a cervical biopsy taken just under 2 weeks ago and got my results back today as I phoned the nhs switch line. I too couldn't stand to wait for the results and was told 1-2 weeks and I got them back within 10 days. I no it's a different type of biopsy but hopefully they all come back just as fast for your mum , I got myself so worried waiting and no what It's like. they should call within days If urgent x hope ur helps a bit x

  • Hi pips thanks for your reply.

    I'm sorry you've been in the situation of waiting on results too. It really is horrible isn't it?

    Still no results from a doctor but my mum has had a text today saying she has had an appointment booked for her to have a CT scan on christmas eve and that's from the endoscopy. I can't help but feel this is a bad sign that it is cancer. I'll be absolutely heart broken if it is as my mum is my best friend.

  • I was petrified but I got myself that worked up it's scary going for tests and stuff but on the same hand if results are anything nasty there's so much they can do this day and age and dosent always mean the worst. I had to get referred to different departments on the day of my biopsy Which had me even more scared to but my results thankfully came back normal so I think sometimes we all assume the worst when there could be many explanations for what's going on. Really hope your mums okay and gets the all clear xxx

  • Hiya. Did you find out who made the CT referral? My mum had an endoscopy 3 weeks ago which showed a small hiatus hernia. They did take some biopsies but the report doesn't say anything about a mass or anything.

    My mum booked a GP appointment because she still has symptoms and in the meantime had a phone call a couple of days ago asking her to go for CT, but we weren't expecting it and have no idea who made the referral. 

    Getting myself in a bit of a panic. 

  • Hi,

    Yes the referral was made from gastroenterology as she had the endoscopy through them. She was diagnosed with oesophegeal cancer but no one had mentioned it at the time so we were very much in the dark. She was then referred to oncology for more tests and scans to stage it.  Unfortunately my mum passed away in May of this year from a stroke while having chemo for the cancer.

    I know it's difficult but please try not to panic yourself too much as CT scans can be used for many things. I know it's easier said than done though as I worried myself to death over my mums CT scan. It's a really horrible situation to be in as the wait is so difficult especially when no one gives you any other information.

     

    My advice for you is to advocate on behalf of your mum and push for answers or test results or anything your mum needs because it was a struggle getting anything sorted for my mum while covid was going on. It took months to finally get answers.

    I really do wish you and your mum the best and please keep me updated on how she gets on xx