I had a biopsy done last week and have been told that the result will take 3 weeks. That will be 6 weeks from referral in total, which seems a long time. I’m told that there is a backlog. I keep seeing members saying ‘push for results’ but who and how do I push? I don’t know who to get in touch with.
Hi Lindy, thank you for reaching out to us for support. I am Sharon, one of the nurses on the Macmillan Cancer Support Line.
3 weeks feels like a long time when you are waiting for test results and it can bring up difficult emotions. If you think it would be useful to talk to someone, please feel free to phone us on 0808 808 0000.
You don’t mention where the biopsy was taken. If you want to chase your biopsy report, we would recommend contacting the department that you were referred to and ask to speak to the consultants’ medical secretary. She/he will be best placed to answer your questions around timings. You don’t need to know which consultant you have been assigned to, they will be able to find you on the system.
The NHS have targets for cancer waiting times when someone has been put through as an urgent referral. In England there is a new target called the Faster Diagnosis Standard. The aim is that you shouldn’t have to wait more than 28 days to find out if you have cancer or not. This target doesn’t cover Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales.
The target around waiting to start treatment covers all UK countries. If someone needs treatment for cancer, they should wait no more than 62 days from the date the hospital receives an urgent referral, and no more than 31 days between the meeting at which you and your doctor agree the treatment plan and start of treatment.
Many hospital trusts are not meeting these targets at the moment, but they will be aiming to get a diagnosis as soon as possible.
Often provisional biopsy results are ready in a few days, but sometimes further tests are needed to clarify the results, or the tissue may need to be looked at again by another specialist. (depending on the type of biopsy) These tests can take a few weeks to complete. The medical secretary will be able to advise on whether this is the case for you.
I hope this is useful. Do not hesitate to contact us if you need further information. We have various ways of offering support for people worried about cancer. We have webchat as well as our support line if you want to talk to someone.
Take care, Sharon
