Biopsy results appointment delays?

Hi all, 

Not sure if I'm posting in the right section so apologies if I'm not. I'm just wondering if anybody else is experiencing delays in getting results at the moment? I had an ultrasound & 3 core biopsies taken at the breast clinic 3 weeks ago. I keep being given appointments to go into the clinic again to see the consultant and get results, but due to covid they keep getting rearranged. I was supposed to go tomorrow, but now that's been rearranged too. 

 

At risk of sounding dramatic, I'm going mad. I've been coping fine throughout this whole experience but the waiting is really upsetting me now. I spoke with my consultant's secretary today, who told me that my consultant has been changed due to him having covid, and that I will receive a letter with the new appointment details. I asked if there was anything she could tell me over the phone as if it is benign, I'm OK with leaving it and freeing up the F2F appointment for somebody else. She replied that she couldn't tell me anything and that I have to go for the F2F. 
 

I guess I'm just wondering if anybody is experiencing anything similar. I have been reading posts here for a while and noticed that some people are told results over the phone, but the secretary was adamant that I have to go in person. Should I be worried by that? Before today I was just thinking that if it was something to worry about they wouldn't be cancelling on me. I have mental health problems as it is and this is all getting a bit overwhelming. 
 

If you made it this far, thanks for reading my rant, haha! 

  • Hi Codax,

    Ideally no-one should receive results over the phone, it is not good practice. As patients we all have questions to ask even if it's just are you sure or what does that alphabetti spaghetti nonsense that you've just read out to me mean in plain English?

    Sadly standards have slipped during Covid and some people ARE receiving results over the phone, sometimes from people who aren't medically qualified.

    Diagnostic services are massively over-stretched due to a backlog of cases and high Covid infection rates amongst Pathology staff. 

    Try not to overthink things and be assured that having a face to face appointment isn't oninous, it's a sign that someone is taking their job seriously.

    Good luck with your results!

    Dave

  • Dave, 

    Thank you for putting things into perspective for me - thankfully feeling much calmer now. I think the frustration of repeatedly thinking 'only X days to wait', and then being knocked back just got the better of me today. Touch wood it shouldn't happen again now, unless the other consultant gets covid too! :silly:
     

    Thank you so much!