Why such delays for breast biopsy. How long did you wait?

My 3D TOMO at RAVE in late February said ‘all normal’, NO cysts, lumps, masses or malignancies found (yet prior to that 3D mammogram in late February an ultrasound at SimonMed imaging on Feb 2nd showed a cyst and to just follow up in six months).
Yet three months later, in May, I insisted my PC refer me back to RAVE and an ultrasound was done and found a solid mass, height greater than circumference etc. RAVE radiologist read their Ultrasound images and reviewed against Februarys Ultrasound from SimondMed calling this a ‘Cyst’ and RAVE RADIOLOGIST said ‘this does NOT constitute a cyst at all’. Unbelievable.

On June 3rd RAVE did an MRI with contrast and confirmed a solid mass, height greater than circumference yet this time it’s much larger than US measured.

MRI radiologist said it’s a RAD B4 rating yet I am STILL waiting since June 4th for a BIOPSY, never mind getting this very suspicious lump OUT of my breast because surgeons and RAVE are booked up for several weeks to do a biopsy.
Surgeons are booked up for several weeks just to get me in for a Consultation to do a biopsy or lumpectomy etc

This is a disgrace that ANY woman has to wait this long for a very suspicious mass to be biopsied, never mind totally removed before it spreads.

Totally disgraceful.

Hi Joanne, welcome back. It is so hard to wait. I get that. Hearing that you have a suspicious lump is alarming. The natural first reaction is “Get this thing out of me. Now!” However, it is really important that your team gather all the information through testing to discover the type of breast cancer and what treatment plans is best.

You’re right that the breast biopsy is an important part of the gathering information phase.

Have you asked to have yourself added to a wait list in case of cancellation? Are you able to request an appointment or second opinion at a different cancer center?

Yes. I did all that. On many wait lists, got several different opinions after they reviewed imaging CD’s. They all concured solid mass, height greater than dimensions (which can usually indicate cancer) etc.

The many surgeons and breast centers, imaging facilities I called in early June were ALL booked up and booked out until late July or mid August. No matter how I pleaded to get me in ASAP as radiologist rated me a Bi-RAD B4 YET NONE of them budged on getting me in sooner.

This is a disgrace. Since June 4th I’ve been waiting on a biopsy that RAVE imaging will be doing July 25.

Absolutely UNacceptable that any woman should have to wait almost two months for a biopsy when ultrasound and MRI in late May and June 2 clearly is leaning towards cancer.

Disgraceful. Every woman should be appalled by this.

I agree that it is horrible to have to wait for what feels like an urgent biopsy. Sadly, this is pretty common now (worse since Covid-19). Unless you have a clear cut aggressive cancer. This is not unique to women either. I believe it is just a feature of the world today. I find it to be much less annoying if I remember that pretty much everyone is having the same problem.
I know august feels like a long way off but you are almost there. Have you called to get on a cancellation list?
Just out of curiosity what is RAVE?

RAVE is a imaging facility in Venice FL.
Women should be outraged that this has become the norm to wait two months for a biopsy of a highly suspicious lump per ultrasound and 3D MRI with contrast.

Disgraceful. I keep on top of my health, get mammograms yearly or moreso if needed yet our dysfunctional healthcare system then turns around and takes two months for a biopsy.

Their explanation is they are very busy, all booked up etc yet we are not even in snowbird season here in SW Florida and all these biopsy facilities and surgeons etc are booked out for months. And Yes I was on everyone's cancellation list. No one cancelled so I've been waiting since June 4th.

Pathetic.

So sorry to hear of this. I waited three weeks for my biopsy. Please call the radiology department if you haven’t done so already to see what the problem is.

Have you checked to see if the other two institutions such as Mayo is within your insurance network? ♥️

I can understand your concern but having a friend who is a radiologist, I can see firsthand how overtaxed the system is post Covid. Still it’s hard to hear of the time lapse between appointments.

Last year my friend waited 3 weeks for a diagnostic mammogram and 6 weeks for her biopsy.

I also know that all physicians take an oath to do no harm. I truly believe if the radiologist felt that the area of concern had the potential to grow quickly, you would be seen earlier.

And lastly, brace yourself for the wait from pathology after you have the biopsy. All departments are taxed. People are just leaving their jobs. ♥️

I love too far from Mayo but I'm closer, only ,,1.5 hours south of Moffitt Cancer Institute in Tampa so I've scheduled for all my records to be faxed there once this biopsy is done on July 25.

In early June I called many surgeons, imaging centers, Women's Breast centers etc and ALL were booked up for two months. All surgeons were booked up 2.5 months just for the consultation never mind getting a biopsy from them. All the secretaries or the nurses for these surgeons said on June the 4th to me that we are booked out about 2.5 months just for the consultation and then approximately another one month wait for you to have the actual biopsy. This is insane. The only facility I could get in on July 25th when I call them June the 4th was a local imaging center where they have radiologists that do ultrasound guided biopsies. So technically I'm almost waiting two full months to get this biopsy and I absolutely feel at this point I'm in a third world country with the way things are going with our health care system and none of the powers that be are talking about it. It's like dead silence with the fiasco and the dog and pony show going on within our health care system. It really bothers me that you hear so many news stories and people talking about breast cancer awareness and joining the 10 mile run to raise money for breast cancer studies and breast cancer awareness month and breast cancer is the leading cause of death in women on and on and on and it to me it's all window dressing at this point it's all window dressing because when the rubber hits the road all this hype and chatter and talk about giving a hoot about saving women's lives regarding breast cancer means nothing if women are waiting two or three months for a darn biopsy. I'm sorry but I am totally fed up. This is all unacceptable. When I'm done with all of this I'm going to push for a news station to do a story on this because I'm one woman that is not going to tolerate this that we're in the most medically advanced nation and we have all this news media all the time about saving women's lives cuz breast cancer is a killer it's a killer of women yet look at the fiasco we are dealing with yet no one is talking about it none of the news stations are talking about it Doctors should be outraged women should be outraged. It's unacceptable.

I have been reading your posts, and responses to other members who have given you support. Firstly, I find it very disappointing when we have to wait too long for things. We waited 6 months for a pet scan for my husband with a positive biopsy for high grade prostrate cancer. That being said, outrage is unsustainable for long periods of time and is exhausting for everyone exposed to it. You might want to save some of that energy, yours and that of those willing to support you because if that biopsy comes back positive you will need that energy to fight the real enemy here………cancer.
As a long time survivor of breast cancer, I can tell you there are ups and downs with a positive diagnosis, and it can (if aggressive) consume your life for some time to come. If I could go back to where you are now, I might just enjoy the time before my life is changed forever.
In the interest of not leaving misinformation here, I will correct one thing. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women.
I am interested to know if you have tried VA care, my brother was unhappy for many years with his VA care but when I was helping him, the last year of his life, I kept saying things like “holy buckets, they sure got you in quick” or “ I sure wish private sector worked this well”.
We use tri care (retired military) and have pretty good luck, but we wait a lot!
Do you have a VA facility close by?

I would he calling to get updates.
I waited week and a half it was during the holidays and didn't get chemo till 2 months later with TNBC which is aggressive. My tumor ended up being 5.8 cm The they will do cat scan, MRI and pet scan are needed. The worst part is the wait. The tests tell what stage you are and then they know how to treat you.
I had to wait for surgery and for radiation but I am 2 years out from surgery so far so good.
Thinking of you on your
Journey and you will get thru this. Surround yourself with friends and family.
Thinking of you.