Not common practice but not unknown and almost invariably when the labs in the UK have a record backlog as they do now.

There's a chronic shortage of histologists in the UK compounded by record Covid-related sickness absence in the UK. 

Good luck with your results!

Dave

Ah great to know, thanks for the reply. The common sense part of my brain was saying 'it's surely because of the backlog' but the less logical part was telling me I have a rare disease that requires analysis in America :laugh: 

Hi Anxious, It's absolutely nothing to worry about. Your sample will have been sent to America for a test called oncotyping. We don't do it here in the UK. Don't ask me why, I have no idea. Your oncologist should've told you. The test will come back with a number which will determine whether or not chemotherapy is required.  Under 25,probably not, over 25 you will need chemo. My oncotype score was 30 so I had both chemo and radiotherapy after my surgery. Don't worry unnecessarily that your sample was sent to the USA. It is common practice and doesn't mean anything is more wrong than having cancer is already something wrong. I am surprised that you are waiting so long for the results as mine were back in 2 weeks, maybe there is a backlog at the lab in America?

Hope this info helps set your mind at ease. I know how stressful the whole cancer thing is but you achieve nothing by worrying about things that are out of your control. Keeping my fingers crossed for you, Mog, x

I know this post was a year ago but thought I'd post in case someone was googling this question like I did. I've recently been told by my consultant that my lymph node biopsy would be sent to the USA. I think this must be common practice now, with certain cancers.  I was told should take upto 3weeks. 

Yes  mine is breast cancer. I did find it weird itwas going to America   I thought I'd mis-heard them

Elec it’s called the oncotyoe DX for breast cancer it gives you a score to see if you require chemo for my age im 49 scire had to be over 26 to get chemo , they say 3 weeks it was back in 12 days , are you waiting to find out if you need chemo ? 

The consultant just said they were checking to see if it had spread to the sentinel lymph node as she told me I'd only need radiotherapy.. 

Elec 

the test for sentil node is a biopsy they would have already got this information, they send the actual tumour to America to determine chemo , it does not go for any other reason only to get your tumour in depth , to see if chemo would be required xx if you google the oncotyoe DX it will explain in detail , I’m not sure why you were told it checks for soread as it’s not the case lovely xx 

What I mean is when you had your operation your sentil node biopsy would have been done and they would have had these results about 2 weeks after your operation, so you should have had results for that already , oncotyoe is a totally different test noting to do with checking spread to sentil nodes or any soread xx