Waiting on biopsy appointment

Hi Mzbillieb! My name is Victoria and I just received my biopsy results back last Thursday, after waiting over a week for the results. Waiting is definitely so very stressful, I agree, and I too felt like I was going insane from the worry! I frantically searched youtube for something that might help my anxiety and found three things that have helped me more than anything else thus far (along with constant prayer). Those are practicing "diaphragmatic breathing," "acceptance" and "mindfulness." I had no control over whether the biopsy results would show cancer. And no amount of worrying or stressing was going to change the biopsy results...or the fact that I have cancer, which the biopsy results showed I do. So, I decided I could either accept it as fact and surrender the outcome to God (or the Universe, or whatever we identify as a Higher Power), or cause myself wave after wave of panic and anxiety by marinating in the "what ifs." I also practice mindfulness, One Moment at a Time, and stay in this present moment, where God is, and where I can relax in my "safe place," which is a place I've created in my mind where I feel peace, serenity, love and light....or I can make myself so anxious that I literally vomit. I also learned diaphragmatic breathing, which sends more oxygen through my body to my brain, and helps me relax so much that sometimes I actually feel a little sleepy afterwards. It's not always easy to practice mindfulness, deep breathing, and acceptance...sometimes I just need to have a good old gully-washing cry, but it is definitely possible! And it may sound corny, but it really does work....and I've found it to be the only way I can stay centered during this difficult time.

If you're interested, there are tons of videos on youtube that can help you calm your body, mind and heart while you wait for your results. I wish you all the best and send prayers heaven-ward for you...please come back and tell us your results!

Victoria

my biopsy appointment at my SAME clinic was about 1.5 weeks after the ultrasound d and mammo.

But my new appointment at a new clinic ( referral to Seattle Cancer Care) was set about 3 weeks after my biopsy report came back.

So I think it's going to vary from place to place, depending on how big or small the clinic is.

When I scheduled mine, the breast hospital was scheduling out a month, because they require insurance pre-auth. The imaging place didn't require pre-authorization for a biopsy, and my insurance assured me it was covered, so I went with the place that would get me in faster. biopsy was just less than a week after the ultrasound.

You'll be running up against several issues: one is whether the insurance requires pre-approval of any sort, second whether the center does (apparently our breast hospital does because it's considered outpatient surgery), and third, how busy they are.

Even if they schedule you a few weeks out, you can ask if there's a cancellation list they call. Some places ask you to call each morning to ask about cancellations, others just keep a list of people who want to come in sooner.

I think being assertive is a good plan. It might also be worth asking your doctor's office to follow up too, and make sure that the imaging center has official notice of your family history, from your GP.