Biopsy results back fast

Hi Pricilla,

I can't say for melanoma, but I had results back a couple years ago from a breast biopsy that seemed terribly quick...I had a missed phone call around three days later and panicked! However, it turned out that the biopsy was clear, very clearly so, and the nurse couldn't wait to tell me by letter and rang me to stop me worrying!

I think fast results usually mean the situation is clear-cut. They don't have to have multi-departmental meetings first, or whatever it is they have, to discuss what's seen. Or it may even be as simple as the lab that tests for this in your area, is fully-staffed and quick at turning around tests!

So it's impossible to speculate in your case what fast results mean. But I think we all tend to assume the worst anyway, and even if it does turn out to be something needing treatment, the fact that you have had your results quickly means that they can get started asap to give you the best possible outcome. A three week wait on results is three weeks further down the line when they are not starting treatment. 

It's a heart-stopping moment when that letter or phone call comes through...but I hope you get good news tomorrow. Good news could be anything from "all clear" to " there's a treatment for this that will clear it" or "we have caught it very early" - all of those are good news to those of us who have had any form of cancer.

Sending you hugs 

Forgot to say: I also had a very quick result more recently. My kidney mass histology came through in just over a week, which was considerably less than the two weeks I had been told to expect, and in fact it was about three days before I found my consultant's letter in My Care, so effectively the result was back to him in around 4-5 days, not two weeks! It was a simple histology; nothing complicated, which is probably why it took so little time for them to assess it. I also equally wondered if the lab was just being extra-quick at what might have been a quiet time in their working year, for example, and because it was a simple result it didn't take them any extra time either. 

Thank you I’m still shaking but trying to stay positive 

I had similar. A call to book a results appt next Monday, just 2 weeks since my biopsy. Hoping others guesses and experience are similar for me.