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How long does it take for biopsy results been 3 weeks

Xenomorph_79
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Hi,

 

I was wondering how long it's taking to get biopsy results at the moment as I have now been waiting 3 weeks. I know it's taking longer due to covid but looking online it's normally 2-10 days.

 

I have a large tumor on the upper left side of my back. The dermatologist doctor says that they suspect that it could be Kaposi Sarcoma, Lymphona B or a rare skin cancer. I already have HIV so might make it worse and be the cause of it. In the last few days I have been getting chest pains on the left side and worried that it could be my lung and I'm slightly breathless. Phoned my GP who just said that I had to wait for the hospital to diagnose as they are dealing with it now and not to phone again unless urgent.

 

My GP first said it was a cyst and booked me an appointment 3 weeks later I went but then they said it was tumor.

The 2 week wait took almost 6 weeks as I couldn't get to where they originally tried to send me as I don't drive.

Now I have been waiting three weeks for my biopsy results and if I'm honest all this waiting is causing me stress. I can now understand how people can be diagnosed too late.

 

I don't know how I will manage if it is as I live alone and not close to family as they are religious and disowned me when I had HIV and found out I was gay. I haven't spoken to them for 14 years. Hopefully I can't be thrown on the street if I can't pay the rent if I can't work.

 

Trying to hope for the best but I know that something isn't right.

 

Sorry if it's long and boring

 

Adam

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    Hello Adam, 

    Welcome to Cancer Chat! I can completely understand why all this waiting is causing you so much stress. It sounds like you really need some answers now and perhaps you could try and ring the hospital and mention that you have been waiting for three weeks and are getting rather anxious about it. Regarding your chest pains, if you see that these symptoms are getting really troublesome, do get in touch with your GP again and maybe ask for a second opinion and mention that you have been waiting for your biopsy results for 3 weeks and that it is causing you a lot of stress. Hopefully someone whether at the hospital or surgery can try and chase this for you. 

    I know it's really hard but try and keep distracted if you can while waiting for your results and avoid looking anything up online. Try not to anticipate what it might be or what the financial implications might be until you find out more and hopefully you won't have to wait too long now for these important results. You might be interested in reading this article on how to cope with waiting for news and I hope it will give you some good tips on how to lessen your anxiety during this stressful time.

    I am keeping everything tightly crossed for you that everything turns out to be fine. 

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Offline in reply to Moderator Lucie

    I have had an upper gi endoscopy I 31 august due to already problems hiatus hernia and ulcers and now anaemia.they had to take 6 biopsy of the top and middle and bottom of my esophagus,it's been over 3 weeks and I'm still waiting for results is this normal as I'm really anxious..

    Had an endoscopy over a year ago that is when they recovered I had a hernia I didn't know that they didn't tell me .I work as a cleaner / house keeper so I do a lot of lifting and manual work.but in the last week I can't move I'm in so much pain from constant headache and back is killing me pains in my chest under my arms my shoulder my neck really bad syatica , can't bend, lift or stretch as I get really bad stabbing pains  in my rib cage.is this normal ....

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    I know this might not reassure you but it took 5wks for me to get my results back and the news wasn't good news so I expect a good result to maybe be sooner as my consultant said they had to meet as a multidisciplinary team first to discuss my case. 

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