Biopsy being sent to another hospital

Hi everyone

i attended hospital to have a lump removed from my throat in august. As it happened the lump was too large and the surgeon said she would just take a biopsy instead (was awake). I had the results on Thursday via telephone.  If I am honest I am now confused as I probably didn’t take in all of the information. 

the dr said that there were signs of a carcinoma but it could be benign but the biopsy was being sent off to Cambridge for further tests and as these tests were quite niche it would be another 4 weeks. The Dr said these tests were to confirm the grade but she was confident it was low and to see if it was benign or malignant.

obviously my head is spinning and I am replaying the conversation over and over in my head. Her saying carcinoma and low grade seems like she thinks I do have cancer but I really don’t know and she did mention the word benign at the same time as low grade. 

is it usual for your biopsy to be sent to another hospital. Also is this likely to be to confirm a diagnosis or to just complete another check with fresh eyes.  I appreciate there are so many factors to consider but was just putting it out there to see what people thought. I will try and contact the Hosp on Monday. 

I have been out of my mind if I’m honest and playing Dr Google probably isn’t helping me much. I was referred for the appointment last June and it took 13months to get the appointment and then another two weeks for the biopsy so I am concerned that so much time has passed if it is malignant. 


sorry waffling now. 
thank you 

Emma 

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  • My first biopsy, in July, was sent to another hospital, I was told, for a second opinion. The second one, on 5th September, was sent to a different well known cancer hospital in London, I wasn't told why.

    The trouble with telephone conversations is trying to understand / remember what has been said. I do hope you are able to speak to someone tomorrow.

    Dr Google is something we all consult and often wish we hadn't.

  • Thank you for your reply Mary. I am kicking myself for not asking more questions but at the time of the call.  The Dr was lovely and I think she was trying to be quite reassuring  and I took the information as I may or may not have a malignant carcinoma. 

    It’s only the last few days that I have been almost obsessed with replaying the conversation in my head that the words now don’t make sense. 

    Hopefully I can get some clarity on Monday. Hope you had some good news in the end 

  • Good luck tomorrow.

    I haven't had any news yet.

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