Problem getting timely biopsy appointment

Amica

I posted some of this in the Canadian forum but am reposting here because it concerns waiting for test results.

In 1998 at age 39 I had Stage 2 Breast Cancer with one positive lymph node that was successfully treated with surgery, radiation, chemo and hormonal therapy. In Canada they do not allow you to continue 6 month or yearly follow-ups with an oncologist as I was doing in the U.S. Your care is turned over to a family practitioner who knows nothing about survivor follow-up care in my opinion. I recently discovered a very large solid mass that suddenly appeared just below my collarbone under the pectoral muscle on the affected side. An ultrasound was done and the report states that it is a 31 x 14 x 40 mm mass "highly suspicious for a pathologic lymph node" and a biopsy was recommended. This is a huge mass.

I had the ultrasound over a week ago and my family physician's office has still not contacted me with even an appointment time for the biopsy. I don't feel like they are treating it with any urgency. I had all my previous treatments in the U.S. and am used to wait times of a day or two, at least to get an appointment scheduled. When I phoned the office and spoke with a clerk and was insistent--but not rude-- the clerk got angry and hung up on me! Then when my family doctor finally called me the first thing she said was that I had to not be rude to the staff. Nothing about the fact that I am freaking anxious as hell and that the staff might have a little compassion.

The medical literature shows that for ER/PR + cancer there is a low but real life-long risk of recurrence especially for women who were initially diagnosed at age 40 or younger as I was. I have worked in the cancer field and have had some training in ultrasound and I was able to see the mass when the exam was done and it was inky black and hypoechoic, which is a very ominous sign.

I am incensed that they can't even get a biopsy appointment SCHEDULED within a week of a very bad ultrasound report. God only knows when the actual appointment will be because apparently they only do biopsies one day a week at this hospital. I asked the doctor if I couldn't phone around different cities and find a surgeon or radiologist who might have an opening and she said that's not how it works here. I can't just move back to the U.S. and suddenly purchase health insurance and God knows how much that would cost anyway. I am so anxious. I just can't stand this. I feel so helpless and there's nothing I can do.