Breast biopsy: The results are in

Hi @denise66
I'm not a Mayo patient, but I do use different portals for my various doctors and lab. Typically, the protocol is that pathology, lab and scan reports are sent to the ordering doctor first and they have to review and sign off for the report to be released to the patient. Even my reports that indicated completely normal results have been held up with this process so please don't assume it's because there is bad news.

I usually reach out to my doctors through the portal and ask them to release my reports hoping to speed up the review process. I like to read reports in advance so I can have my questions ready. I think my biopsy results in 2020 were give to me after 4 days, but I'm usually told the standard is up to 5 days.

I'm glad you're meeting with your doctor today, Friday. The waiting game is so very stressful and we have a tendency to start imagining the worst as time goes by. I hope you can get some sleep. Please let us know how it turns out. Praying for good news!

Blessings to you, Zebra

Zebra,

Thank you so very much for replying. I greatly appreciate it. Based on my ultrasound, the measurements are 2.0 cm x 1.2 cm x 1.3 cm.

I know breast cancer is staged based on size. What size do the use? Do they add up the measurements to determine the size? Or, do they go by the largest size. My would be 2.0 cm.

My I ask if your size on the ultrasound was consistent with your size noted by the pathologist?

Thanks you so very much for replying

Denise

Hi Denise @denise66

I don't have my ultrasound report, but I believe the noted tumor size has always been fairly consistent from report type to report type. I believe size is only one factor in staging. They also look at if it has spread and other factors. I do not know the answer to your question about adding up tumor measurements as this was never discussed with me. They seem to be giving more and more info and scores these days.

I'm still hoping you're going to hear it is benign. I've had four breast tumor biopsies over a 36 year span. All were suspicious for cancer, but two of them were benign. Remember, 80% of breast biopsies are benign so only 1 in 5 are cancer. Keep hoping.

Zebra

@denise66 are you seeing your oncologist in a week?

In my experience it would take longer for the results to come onto the portal. I had blood tests Monday and the last ones came on the portal last night, but biopsies take longer.

I understand the anxiety. When I was waiting for the portal I drove to the hospital medical record room to get results!!

Some docs do wait until they see you, it seems, though we may have a right to see our results once they are seen by the doc. Keep us posted!

The anxiety of waiting is so painful! I still check my portal often after labs or tests of any kind. I don't want any surpises. I have always been able to see my results before I see my doctor. (I am with a large local medical system). My husband who was with a large medical insurance group could only see some of his results and only after they were released by his doctor.
I understand that we can be limited by the size of the community we live in, our insurance companies, policies and most of all staffing.
I wish you well in your journey.

Thank you Zebra. I were much appreciate your encouragement. At what age were you diagnosed?

Denise

I get an alert when my report gets posted. I got mine the next day. It reported I had ADH and to discuss treatment with my doctor. I was scared because I was hoping it would be nothing. Now interestingly enough 10 minutes later they pulled my report. I had already screen shot it so I looked up every word. I ended up having a lumpectomy and there was no other signs of cancer. Phew but the not knowing is the worst! Good luck!

I don’t know about Mayo but posting results does take a little time.

I had the opposite reaction to my results when I saw they were posted, “Gee, I have breast cancer. Sure would have been nice to hear this from my doctor first!”

You can also call for your results or at least ask when you can expect them to be posted.

Good luck and let us know how you make out. Take care.

Hi Denise @denise66

In answer to your question, I was initially diagnosed at 54.

When you said you were seeing your doctor for results Friday, did you mean today or next Friday? Hoping you get your results today so you can move forward one way or another. Just remember, if it is cancer, there are lots of treatments and we'll all be here to support you and see you through it.

We're all here waiting with you.

Zebra

Denise,
I waited longer because I had a rare form of breast cancer. I know that it is difficult to wait but sometimes it takes a while for them to come up with the correct diagnosis. I really understand how difficult this is for you. My first diagnosis was that I had a cancer that was very fatal but after they sent the specimen to Stanford University they changed my diagnosis to not so fatal.
Katrina