How long does it take for the pathology results to come after a surgery?

Hi, I had mine 10 days after surgery, they told me approx 2 weeks would be normal.

Not sure why it’s taking so long

Hi Daizy03

I'm guessing there's more of a delay due to pressure on the path lab (the dreaded covid).  Then, what usually happens is your team has a meeting before they arrange an appointment for one of them to speak to you.  I'm guessing they've had the first meeting, based on telling you today that they have found cancerous nodes (I'm sorry to hear this), and you'll have to wait for the team to have their next meeting before they speak to you again, maybe?  

If you have concerns, don't hesitate to ring your breast care nurse as that is what they are there for  - and they can perhaps 'prompt' them for you.

Kindest wishes, Lesley

Hi Daizy03, sorry you’re having to wait longer than expected for pathology results, the waiting is the pits without it going beyond the time initially suggested. Although my cancer was HER2 negative, I’ve read of others where the initial results were borderline so further tests had to be done to make sure that they knew for sure, which in turn meant the appropriate treatment would be followed. I wonder if this is the case for you? It would explain the delay and would also hopefully be reassuring in that it means that the medical team are doing all they can to ensure that you get the best treatment plan. I have also read a thread somewhere about a particular area where these results were taking longer due to shortages of staff at a lab. It’s just tortuous to wait but hopefully it’s so that they get the best information about your cancer. 

Wishing you well and sending love and a big virtual hug your way, HFxx

Hi I am just over 5 weeks post op, and still not received my results, advised hopefully towards end of week, and I will be approaching 6 weeks then.  When I spoke to my bcn she advised my results had been deferred for 2 weeks from the mdt meeting, presuming they had ran out of time to discuss mine.  I did say to her I was now getting abit fraught and it was affecting my mental health so she agreed to email the mdt co-ordinator.  The waiting is awful.  Best wishes xxx

Daizy03, I waited three weeks for my pathology results (they're done in America). I needed a further operation to remove the remaining lymph nodes and a CT staging scan to check if the cancer had spread. I was always told chemo wasn't part of my treatment plan but that surprisingly changed four months later.

Hi, have you heard anymore regarding your results  Best wishes xx

Hi, I feel you’re frustration- I had my initial results post surgery in 2 weeks however it was decided I needed an Oncotype DX for testing and I was supposed to get my results today however I had a call from my BCN to say it hadn’t come back from the US. I was absolutely gutted as I’ve spent the last two weeks preparing for my DX results. The waiting is the worst part and causes me so much anxiety………..it’s the not knowing! 

Thank you, what is the criteria for a oncotype test, hope you get your results soon. Best wishes xxx

My tumour was 19mm and they are not sure if I need chemotherapy so they wanted to get a reoccurrence score to enable them to make a decision.