Biopsy results back quicker than advised. Is this worrying?

Hello,

I had a colonoscopy 11 days ago and was told biopsy results could be 4-6 weeks. On the piece of paper I was given it also said 4-6 weeks. I've seen online the results have been uploaded today but I can't see them as it says they will be delayed to give the consultant time to review them. Does this mean it could potentially be serious if they've been released a lot earlier? 

  • Hi Io123

    I had biopsies taken (after a hysteroscopy) on the 2nd November and the letter sent to me with the results was dated the 11th - although it took a further eight stressful days to reach me! All clear thankfully.

    The consultant had said the results would be two-three weeks, the hysteroscopy report said four weeks and another letter said I wasn't allowed to chase results until after six weeks. So I think the four-six weeks is just to protect them from having loads of anxious people chasing for results after two weeks.

    So  based on my experience, the timing of your results doesn't in itself make it more likely to be bad news.

    Fingers crossed for you!

     

     

     

  • No, it doesn't.

    Believe me, the process is utterly impersonal like a sausage factory or a production line. 

    Samples go in one end and the results eventually come out of the other end. Everyone is far too busy and the volume of tests is overwhelmingly too huge for anyone to be curious about the results ahead of the scheduled time of the multidisciplinary team meeting (MDT). 
     

    Good luck with your results!

     

    Dave

  • Thank you Dave! I appreciate your reply - it's very helpful. You're right - I guess it also depends on each NHS Trust too as to their turnaround of results. I guess I just need to wait for the appointment to come through. 

  • Thank you! I think you are probably right in relation to timings. I guess it was just a shock when I was told 4-6 weeks when you always hear about sinister results or problematic results being back earlier. I hope you are ok!

  • Waiting for results can be so stressful - we start to imagine all sorts of things. 
    Once we were sat outside the oncologist's office waiting for my results and my wife was convinced it was bad news because he came out, avoided eye contact and seemed anxious.
    It turned out that he was furious because my notes had gone missing and he was embarrassed that he was going to have to apologise for the delay while he retrieved my results and the associated report online. After all the stress, it was good news after all. 
     

    You are right - I've recently been working with path labs from seven different Trusts and their turn-around times are unpredictable due to the volume of work, unfilled vacancies and sickness absence. CRUK have been campaigning to get this fixed - the government placed a national cap on the number of training places during austerity which still hasn't been lifted! 

    Best wishes

    Dave