Hello Elaine0401

I'm sorry to hear that you're confused about the recent letter that your mother in law has had with some test results. You mention that she is waiting on a biopsy but does she have an appointment with a Consultant planned? Or do you have any contact details for a nurse specialist at the hospital? They would be best placed to explain the results and answer your questions. 

If you'd like to talk through your concerns with one of our team of nurses you can call them on 0808 800 4040 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm). 

Best wishes, 
Jenn
Cancer Chat moderator

Hello Jenn,

                 maybe you could explain to myself and others why it is that patients receive this type of letter leaving them to worry or misinterpret its implications ,rather than having its contents divulged during a consultation with a professional?.This was what happened in my previous experience,so has their been a change in policy concerning this?

                                                     many thanks,

                                                                              David

Hello David, 

The answer to that question is that I simply don't know I'm afraid. We do seem to have had a number of members post on the forum recently who have been given this kind of information by post and understandably it can cause a lot of upset and confusion. 

Equally we also have a lot of members who post about being given positive and not so positive news in a face to face meeting with a health professional. 

We would recommend that anyone who receives a letter like this and has questions speak directly to their health care provider for clarification and to raise their concerns. 

Best wishes, 
Jenn
Cancer Chat moderator

Hello Jenn,

                    thank you for prompt and clear response concerning what is both a difficult and delicate issue,and as always the more you delve the less straightforward it becomes,

                                                                                                                           David

Hi Jenn,

The consultant will not speak to her or arrange an appointment for her to see him until they have done the lung biopsy. She is still awaiting an appointment for this too. We only know the results of the liver biopsy because she had a doctors appointment and he had a look at them for her.

All the consultant's secretary said when my mother in law phoned was that it wasnt what they were looking for. Not really sure how to take that. 

No one has even gone through her PET scans results with her. Just that letter is all she had and then being sent for test after test.

Everything seems very contradicting at the moment too. Her first x ray was November, so has been sometime now.

We are all in complete limbo.