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Receiving results

Boo93
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Hi everyone

This post is on my mums behalf - hope that's ok. She is due to get biopsy results next week which will be done at a face-to-face appointment. How many people can she bring with her as me and her husband would both want to be with her when she recieves her results. Also, how do consultants "break the news" so to speak? Is it done straight away? I just want to know what to expect really. 

Also, when she went in for her mammogram and biopsy the consultant ordered an MRI scan to be done in the interim between that appoitnment and the appointment to get the results. Is this common practice? He said it would mean we would avoid waiting another week or so after the biopsy results to schedule the MRI. Essentially, lets get it all booked in so we know all the results ready for her scheduled appointment. Is this a case of better to be safe than sorry or is he thinking it may have spread? 

I'm sorry for all of the questions. The wait for these results is horrfic! 

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    My situation is a bit different as it was thyroid cancer rather than breast cancer, but the consultant basically started the appointment with, "we found malignancies" and then gave an overview of what the treatment would be.

    I think scans are pretty much the default. They always have to check it hasn't spread. I had a scan of some sort (was too stunned to take in details) literally within the hour of getting my biopsy results and the odds of my form of thyroid cancer spreading are 1%-4%, so pretty unlikely. They want all the info as soon as possible so they can plan treatment. It doesn't mean they necessarily think it has spread.

    Hope your mum gets good news.

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    Depends on the hospital and what rules they have in place. I'd call them and ask them.

    As for the scans, my wife's scans etc followed a similar pattern. However, there were around 2 weeks in between.

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    Hi, 

    It will depend on the hospital but whenever I've visited the breast clinic, I've only ever seen someone bring one other person with them. However, there's no harm in you both going and one of you waiting in the car/grabbing a coffee during the appointment. At least then you'll be there immediately after. 

    I was diagnosed in June, I had an ultrasound, biopsies and mammogram on my first appointment, I had a contrast mammogram on the same appointment in which I received my diagnosis and I had an MRI a week later.

    I will say that my consultant told me on my first appointment that she was sure I had breast cancer but couldn't actually diagnose until the results came back. I know this to be the case with many other ladies too so it is a positive that your mum wasn't told anything like that on her first appointment as they seem to be quite upfront in that respect! 

    I would try not to worry yourself too much. It was explained to me that each test is a piece of a puzzle and as they put each part of that puzzle together, it becomes clear whether there is anything to worry about and will help decide on a treatment plan in the unfortunate case that there is cancer. 

    Please feel free to ask me any other questions. 

    I hope your mums appointment goes well x 

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