Telephone appointment for biopsy results

I find that the portal info is useful but as you say it’s only available after the experts have told you officially after they oversee the report and add that to what already know about you LH. Your assessment that it was quick is only judged on the facts being available to the experts and that usually is unknown and after the three weeks you’d expect some kind of update. The details of the tests would be handed down to you by a doctor and the nurse appointment sounds like something else like a routine check up perhaps. Speedy test results are good news in my view as there’s more time for the experts to digest them but if there was any bad news you’ll know sooner rather than later. More apps and links to our data online is a twin edged sword - sometimes I would rather be in the dark about things and wait for the official verbal confirmation at a face to face meeting, but like you I over analyse every little thing and boy do I get my knickers in a twist sometimes.

I haven’t answered you questions with anything but vague advice, sorry. I hope someone else can help you more. 

Hello Dogs4me

I can’t speak for your hospital trust, obviously. All Trusts seem to operate slightly differently too so I think trying to second guess any results might be a waste of your energy.

Our pathway through the diagnostics was drawn out and seemed to us totally disorganised and lackadaisical. I became more and more anxious as we seemed to be having to jump through hoop after hoop.

So, we had the MRI which showed suspicious lesions T3 a. Then it was the biopsy which showed Gleason 4+3. Then it was a bone scan to check for secondaries ( none found). Only after they had ascertained the full diagnosis T3aN0M0 ( ie breaking out of prostate into surrounding tissue p, no lymph node involvement, no secondaries), and after my husband had opted for the HT + RT with the intention to cure, did they start the hormone therapy (ht). We were given mri and bone scan results over the phone and biopsy results f2f

So, my guess is that, as you suggest, your last hoop before determining the treatment, is for a scan. 

I think we all find the diagnostics the most stressful part of the whole journey. I was so stressed at times that I had to make a conscious effort to just breathe. However, once we knew where we stood and what was going to happen we felt more in control of our lives again. 

the thing for you to hang on to now is that prostate cancer is usually very slow growing and , even if they can’t cure, they can treat and manage this cancer for a long time. Finally, there is so much research going on and new drugs and treatment regimes coming in to play all the time.  We see this in our own family through the generations! My husband’s grandfather died because of ‘a problem with his prostate’ and no treatment available.  My husband's father died of prostate cancer because it eventually evaded the only treatment then available to him - hormone therapy. Now there is HT, much more sophisticated RT, brachytherapy, focal therapy, chemo and more! 

Try to hang on in there - you are getting through the worst part! 

HTH x

Thank you so much for your reply. The appointment actually says it is for biopsy results and also that it is with a nurse which has confused me a little.

Thanks again

Thank you so much. I will really try to hold onto these things. He had an MRI marrow which was negative but I don't know how accurate that is or how much of the body it covers. Nobody has really spoken to us tbh.

Thank you again

Hello Dogs4me 

Every hospital trust is different. It can be the results are back earlier than expected and your 'phone call will be from a very qualified CNS (Cancer Nurse Specialist).

Here we go then:

* Try and have your call on speaker phone - ask for a printed copy of the results and write down what you can.

* You need the Gleason Score and TNM score,

* As for questions - be prepared - here's a list of some you might want to ask - Questions For My Team.

I hope this helps - I can ramble too sometimes .

Best wishes - Brian.

Thank you Brian. I. Will read the questions and make notes

My biopsy results were delivered by a nurse (CNS).

I was seen by an oncologist later.

The hormone therapy, in my case, started Immediately. No time was lost overall.

Thank you Steve

That is very reassuring. Was your meeting with the nurse on the phone or face to face? Not sure why but it bugs me that we still won't have seen anyone face to face. Guess I am old fashioned.....

Hello Dogs4me, all our contact has been by phone, apart from the tests. As we are at least an hour's drive from the hospital, and parking is horrendous, we are okay with this. The prostate nurse is very friendly and professional and we have the phone on speaker so I can 'take notes'! Guess the time saved means they can 'see' more patients.

Started HT injections this week, all arranged by the hospital at local surgery. Just waiting for side effects now!

Do expect a face to face with the oncologist soon, and are adding to our list of questions all the time as we have needed time to process the diagnosis. It's such a shock with lots of unknowns isn't it? The support from this community is invaluable.

I think test-to-result times are just an approximation, and wouldn't read too much into them. Hope, like us you'll feel relieved soon, when a plan is in place, and treatment starts.

Best wishes to you both

X

My meeting was face to face. 

I have to say I was not terribly enthused.  

Following this website I had done a lot of research,  read the NICE guidelines,  made notes,  and developed a list of questions. 

That didn't work terribly well. 

She started me on HT, which my research said was the probable starting point,  but did not b seem to be due about anything else. 

The subsequent meeting with the oncologist went a LOT better. 

If it were you I would outright ask for ba face to face discussion.