Strategies for coping with waiting for biopsy results

Hi

The waiting is tough and you just want to know. I found working and keeping normal routines helped a bit. Walks in the fresh air and then back and watched light hearted things on tv. 

In my experience the time for results just depends on how busy the hospital pathology lab is. From my understanding specimens are sent to the lab and are done in an order, when they get to yours then they check it and the results are passed to the clinician. So once they get to yours it is actioned fairly quickly. My ultrasound result was the following day. My CT/biopsy results took around a week. My post op results took around 3 1/2 weeks. 

It can also depend on how you have chosen to receive any results. I opted to have a phone call so knew straight away. If I had opted for a letter or a face to face appointment it would have taken longer. 

I found trying to focus on what you actually know than on what you are fearing helps. At the moment you have done everything right- you had symptoms and these have been checked out. They needed to be checked and it is a necessary process. Only a biopsy can confirm or rule out cancer. Hopefully it will rule it out but the test was still necessary. If there is no cancer present then they can look further to see if there is any other cause for your symptoms, and whether any further monitoring or treatment is needed. 

I found that when I got my diagnosis, I actually felt a bit better as I knew what I was dealing with. The uncertainty was worse in a way. 

I understand that you do not want to worry friends and family- I felt the same initially but it can help. For family I also felt that they would want to know. It also helped when I had my diagnosis. If I had been given the all clear I think they would just have been relieved. You could always give the Support Line a call on here if it would help to talk to someone other than people close to you. 

Also it is helpful to stay away from googling for information. Again focus on what you know- once you know for sure whether or not the biopsy is clear or shows cancer- then deal with that. If endometrial cancer is found at an early stage it is normally a very treatable cancer. If cancer is not present then it maybe that you just need some monitoring for any symptoms.

I hope you hear very soon. In the meantime we are here if you need us. 

Jane

I'm nearly a week into the wait and was told 2-3 weeks. That is to do with lab capacity, delay is unfortunately not always good.

Personally I feel less anxious knowing the odds and do like to google - but my background is scientific and I think I'm pretty good at separating junk science from useful sources. Depending on what they have biopsied and why the risk of needing more treatment can be as low as 1.3% (polyp biopsy, source Chelsea and Westminster information leaflet). It's a good bit higher for me but I'd still rather know my odds and what the possible treatment might be. 

Magnesium is important in handling stress and modern diets can be deficient. Leafy greens, legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains are good dietary sources. You can take supplements (magnesium oxide is cheapest but laxative) or if you can get hold of epsom salts (magnesium sulphate)  a warm bath with a good cupful means you will absorb magnesium through your skin, just pat dry rather than rubbing. Fresh air and exercise are good too. 

A really good book (I'm currently reading JK Rowling's Strike series) or something that requires concentration will help stop you brooding.  If you are struggling to sleep then try alternate nostril breathing or any exercise that requires you to breathe slowly and deeply and concentrate on the breathing. Ignore the yoga talk if that is not your thing but the breathing helps. 

Hi Janie, I chose not to tell anyone except my husband until I had not just my results and diagnosis but also my predicted grade/stage, which was after my hysteroscopy, chest x ray and MRI. I used my CNS and the Macmillan help line for support instead. My reason for not telling people is that I really didn’t want to have to face their reactions as for me personally it was hard enough keeping my own head together without dealing with any of their shock, dread, pity, anxiety, sympathy etc. I didn’t want to be fussed over, I just wanted to be able to accept the situation and get through it without undue pallaver. That was my coping strategy. Also I didn’t want my adult children knowing I had cancer but not knowing how serious it might be. So I got heavily into my word games on my iPad, I distracted myself with dog walks and mindfulness with nature, I watched comedy repeats late evening, and I phoned my CNS or the Macmillan support line when I needed it. I made a conscious effort not to Google, and I even only came on this group once a day. And I went out and bought my husband a new musical instrument to learn (ukelele) so that he had an outlet too. 

The uncertainty and waiting are so difficult. I found anything that involved movement helped - it was the sitting still I found hard - so I was better doing cooking or washing up than sitting down. If you can concentrate then things that are absorbing are good. But if watching something relaxing on TV works then go for it and treat it as looking after yourself. I found the mind shift calling whatever I was doing active self care freed me from the burden of "I must relax"! 

Do hope you don't have too long to wait. 

Thank you so much for making time to reply, I really appreciate it.

I have a nursing qualification and used to work as a Sexual Health nurse practitioner. I have clear understanding and like you I do google scientific sources so that I can have an absolute clear picture of possible outcomes and treatments. 

I have started taking Magnesium, unfortunately I live on a widebeam boat so a bath is not an option. Thank you for recommending a good book, probably a good option before going to sleep instead of overthinking. 

Once again thank you!

Thank you so much for making time to reply. You have echoed some of the reasons why I don’t want to share. Thank you for suggesting support options and getting my husband an outlet as well!