frustrated trying to get biopsy results? This might help

Lessons learned!

We had been waiting over 3 weeks for biopsy results and causing unnecessary frustration and stress. Our lives were in limb and I was finding it hard to concentrate on anything.

After posting in here, I spoke to one of your nurses on the helpline and that gave me the confidence to keep trying. She reassured me that as it had been over 3 weeks we should have had the results. I wish I could remember her name to thank her!

I am writing this here in case anyone else finds themselves in this situation and because... well just Argh....!!!

Although I had spoken to the consultant's secretary, I didn't realise she was waiting for the consultant's other secretary to contact her. She told us that we would get the results at the appointment with the consultant at the end of the month (another 3 weeks away!). We told her we had been told we would get the results from the Resp nurse within 2 -3 weeks. She really didn't seem to have a clue.

So my advice is, go to the Secretary that is based at the same hospital as the consultant. In our case that was the regional hospital where my husband had had the surgery to get the biopsy not our local hospital.

Different departments, different teams, different rules.
The Respiratory Team at our local hospital are sticklers for following protocol. I undersatnd it to a degree but common sense and compassion are also needed. Our nurse had been off sick for over 2 weeks. The other nurse had reassured us she was trying to get the results. In fact she was just waiting for the results.

When we finally thought to phone the secretary at the regional hospital she was very helpful, had a look while we stayed on the phone and found that the results had in fact been released the day before. She emailed them to our respiratory team straight away.

We tried to phone the Resp Team to let them know but no answer. Perhaps they were fed up of us ringing and this was about 4pm Friday afternoon. My husband was also under Dermatology so we phoned to let them know the results had been released. By contrast they were so pleased, thanked us for letting them know and said the consultant would look at them that day and call us back.

The Respiratory nurse phoned first. She said they would be discussed at the MDT meeting the following Wednesday and we could go in after that. We said we wanted her to tell us but she was reluctant as 'we don't do things like that.' Exasperated we pushed and she did relent but still said there would be a team meeting before referral. Another week of waiting!

Fortunately the Dermo Consulant was much more helpful. Said he was sorry to be giving us this news but he had already made the referral to Oncology. This was within half an hour of getting the results of the diagnosis. Hallelujah! Sense at last. No beating about the bush or pussy footing around. Yay!

If we hadn't phoned that secretary and kept pushing it would have been at least another week before we even got anywhere and possibly two or three more weeks before we heard the diagnosis.

Why no one thought to ask the consultant's secretary to look out for the results and send them as soon as they arrived I have no idea. An admin could surely have done that?

Thanks to the Macmillan support we now have the answer and the referral my husband needed. 

 Now for the next wait...