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Very stressed awaiting results of CT scan

Ali59
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hello, it’s 9 days since I had my CT scan of neck, chest and upper abdomen because of a lump at the base of my neck..

should I not be as concerned because I didn’t hear immediately? I don’t have a follow up appt in place..

what are other’s experience of waiting for results in Lothian? 

Thanks

Ali

  • Hi Ali59,

    It's only been 9 days, but you can contact your clinic for an update and whether a follow up appointment should be in place. Hopefully they'll give you the information you need.

    Regards,

    Moderator Anastasia

     

  • Offline in reply to Moderator Anastasia

    Hello Anastasia, thanks so much for your response.

    I'm still waiting for results but I have received an appt for follow up, it will be 7 weeks after scan and 8 weeks after first appt at ENT 

    I did call up and was advised the clinic is very busy and there is a long waiting list for people awaiting results... 

    the letter doesn’t advise to take anyone with me so I’m thinking maybe there are no problems, maybe hoping, should I arrange for someone to come with me or will they be turned away as it didn’t mention this in the appointment letter?

    I don’t want to ask someone to take time off work then it’s really a wasted day.. 

    Any thoughts from past experience? Did letter from clinic advise to bring someone?

    has anyone had an appt then been told there is nothing wrong or does that usually come in a letter?

    sending love and grateful thanks in advance x

  • Offline in reply to Ali59

    Hi Ali, 

    My mum had a CT scan last year to check for any spread of bowel cancer, this was at a hospital in Edinburgh, I notice you mentioned Lothian so thought this may be useful. The waiting was horrible, she received a letter probably around a week to 10 days after her scan with an appointment at the western general to discuss next steps. From memory I don’t think it mentioned bringing anyone or not, just to bring lists of allergies, meds etc. 

    However, I wasn’t satisfied waiting during this time so I contacted her GP who had the results of her scan. Unfortunately I got the worst news I could have expected (without the GP having had any data protection approval from my mum to tell him it was ok to divulge information to me). To be clear I didn’t ask for the results I wanted to know if they were back then he blurted it all out. 

    The letter my mum received was, in my opinion, a generic template as it was about surgery for bowel cancer when unfortunately this ended up not being an option. 

    I guess the bottom line, from my experience through my mum, would be don’t wait around for people to get back to you and wait on this letter and that. You can call your GP and ask if the scan results are there, if they are you could ask for an appointment to discuss. I know it is scary but waiting in the unknown won’t be doing your worrying any good either. At least if you know the situation you either are no longer worried and everything is looking ok or you have a plan of what’s to come and you can face it head on with support. 

    Good luck. 

    Rebecca x

  • Offline

    I got the results of my recent CT scan through my GP. It was about 3 weeks after the scan itself. Fortunately, it wasn't bad news.  

    My GP kindly printed out the entire report for me and I took it away to read in carefully.

    I finally heard from the hospital in a letter about 3 weeks after that. 

  • Offline in reply to rebecca1988

    Hello Rebecca,

    thanks so much for your mail. I received my letter from the hospital today and my appt is with a consultant who specialises in head and neck cancer....

    I’ve got 2 weeks to wait for that.. 

    I hope your Mum is good and you are too 

    hugs

    Ali x

     

  • Offline in reply to telemando

    Thanks for your mail, i have an appt come through at last so at least I will hear in 2 weeks what I’m dealing with.

     

    im delighted to hear your good news and I wish you well in the future too

    best regards

    Ali 

  • Offline in reply to Ali59

    good luck for your appointment in 2 weeks time. It will be worrying until you manage to get your results at the appointment. Thinking of you. 

    Rebecca x

  • Offline in reply to Ali59

    Hi Ali,

     

    How did the results go in the end? Hope you are well now :)

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