Pathology Report

Veeder14

I had my surgery last Friday, finished mid afternoon. The Pathology report is still not back as I called the surgeon's office to check. It's been a week. How long do these take to get back? The lab is at the hospital it's not being sent out. I sure wish I didn't have to wait through another weekend. If lymph nodes were positive for cancer would that delay the testing results? Just worried, I guess

edwards750

Veeder14- the waiting is tough. You did have your surgery on a Friday which might mean it would be Monday before they took a look.

Idk what the norm is but I recall it took about a week for mine to come back. I don’t think lymph node involvement is a cause for delay.

Weekends are brutal when you are anxious. I often wonder how the people controlling the tests results would feel if they had to wait by the phone.

Did your doctor’s office give you any idea when you could expect your report to come back? Don’t feel one bit guilty about bugging them. After all it’s your life.

The only advice I can give you is do your best to keep busy.

Of course you are worried that’s natural. Try not to think the worst. Whatever it is it doesn’t mean it can’t be treated.

Just so you know I’m 6 years out last August.

Keep the faith.

Diane

Veeder14

Thanks Diane for your reply. Congratulations on 6 years! The surgeon's office said the NP or the nurse would call me on Monday. They may also post the report on the system email for patients. If I don't hear from them by mid day I will call them.

EastcoastTS

Took at least a week for mine as well.

I'm sorry. I know this time is so stressful. {hugs}

Bosombuddy101

Waiting for surgical pathology is a very stressful time, I know. It should only take a few weeks before you get the results. You're still in the early stages of cancer diagnosis and treatment. You have an excellent Dx and the likelihood of positive lymph nodes is small. I was so blessed to be treated by top notch doctors who eased my worries. The cancer diagnosis floored me and I felt like a zombie walking through hospital corridors seeing one doctor after another. It's all now a blur. I was thankful that my lymph nodes were negative and looking back on the past six months, things could have been so much worse. Life is back to normal.

(((hugs)))

Veeder14

Bosombuddy101,

Glad everything worked out for you, and life is back to normal. It seemed like I waited forever to get the biopsy results from my melanoma surgery and then 1/2 lymph nodes were positive. Luckily I didn't need any other treatment. Doing this so soon after that surgery is real stressful.

Basil2

Veeder14, I am so nervous about cancer being in my lymph nodes too. I haven't had surgery yet, but am anxious about it. What does it mean that 1/2lymph nodes were positive? Did they check two? Also, how is recovery? I hope that you are doing well.

Veeder14

Hi Basil2,

Yes, the Melanoma surgeon took out two lymph nodes, the sentinel nodes that were indicated from the mapping. The first one had cancer but the second didn't so no more treatment was recommended. Melanoma spreads really fast even though I estimate I only had it for less than 3 months before diagnosis. I fully recovered from that as of Dec 2017, just in time to be diagnosed with breast cancer. UGH. I hope you get scheduled for surgery soon and your lymph nodes are not involved.