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Biopsy results - appointment cancelled?! Worried sick

ellie099
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Hi all, 

My Dad had a sore tongue for a couple of months and it appeared there was an ulcer of some kind. The doctor referred him to an oral surgeon (I think?) who had a look and they said everything appeared normal, however sent off for a biopsy. 
 

He received a letter which said that he had been removed from the cancer pathway - but I don't know if this is just in relation to the 2 week cancer pathway thing? 
 

Around 3/4 weeks ago he received a letter asking him to come into see the oral surgeon, however his appointment wasn't supposed to be until tomorrow. I already posted about this previously as I thought it seemed strange to wait a further 3-4 weeks to tell him if they had found that there was anything sinister. 
 

This morning he received a text telling him which part of the hospital to go to, but this afternoon he received a call from the hospital saying his appointment has been cancelled as they don't think the results for all of the tests will be back by tomorrow?! 
 

Has anybody else experienced this? I can't stop panicking, as I know if it was to be any kind of cancer then time is really of the essence. They haven't gave him another date as of yet. 
 

does anybody know what tests they are referring to? i was under the impression that it was just that one biopsy and they was checking this for cancer, but is that not the case? (I'm sorry if this is very dumb of me!) 

 

thank you in advance for your help, and also thank you for even taking the time to read this! 
 

Ellie x

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    Hi Ellie, sorry to hear of your Dad's problems.  I had a biopsy on 5th April and had my results appt on the 20th, one of the biopsy results was still not back at that time (still had appt anyway) and mine were fast tracked!  It is concerning to think that if something is wrong then waiting for treatment seems very very long.  I was diagnosed with an invasive breast cancer which I first felt about 6 weeks ago, I have an MRI tomorrow and then will have to wait for the results of that plus the missing biopsy result before they even decide on my treatment plan.  I understand the why but I could knowingly have cancer for months before any sort of treatment is started.  I try not to think about it too much.  Hopefully they will send a new appt through shortly and you'll find everything is all clear.  Fingers crossed!

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    Hi Ellie,

    A very warm welcome to our forum. 

    I am sorry to hear about your dad's symptoms. Waiting for biopsy results is always a worrying time and some results take longer than others to come back. The consultant likes to discuss the findings of the biopsy, with all the other care professionals in his team, before he gives the results to his patients. This is called an MDT(multi-disciplinary team) meeting and these are usually held weekly. By the time he sees the patient, he will usually not only have the results, but a plan of the way forward.

    This is what usually causes the delay in getting your results aafter they are returned to the hospital. They will usually try and get the results to you as soon as they can, so they should be here shortly.

    It is impossible to say why he has been removed from the cancer pathway, but this sounds like a good thing. The time scales you mention are all par for the course, as far as cancer is concerned. Besides, if he has been removed from the cancer pathway, it doesn't sound as if there is the same urgency.

    I can't help with the tests they carried out, as I am a breast cancer lady and the tests for that are different. Does your dad have any idea of what tests they carried out, besides the biopsy? He could contact his GP to see if he has had any word from the consultant yet, as he should be notified of the findings too. However, like your dad, his GP may hear nothing, until all of the results are in.

    Please keep in touch and let us know how he gets on. We are always here for you.

    Kind regards,


    Jolamine xx

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