skin biopsy result time - Cancer: Skin Message Board

bavarianwench · 03-30-2009, 09:36 AM

Hi,

Am new to these boards. Last Wednesday i went to the derm . I had 4 actinic keratoses frozen with the spray liquid nitrogen on my face. These are the first ones i've ever had.
They also did the punch type biopsy on two spots on my back. I was told it would take up to 3 weeks to get the biopsy results!! My family said that if the lab found something unfavorable, they would have called the derm office within a few days.
I'm wondering what opinions some of the readers may have regarding this.
I think about it all the time and wish i could just stop worrying about it.

thanks all! V from the Jersey shore

Oleander53 · 03-30-2009, 09:44 AM

Hello Bavarian, Do you have a follow up appointment?

You really have to be your own advocate these days. If you do not hear from them in one week call and ask. Also ask for a copy of your pathology reports. They are yours and belong to you. Keep them for your records. Do not assume Doctor's offices do not misplace or overlook reports. It happens all the time. They should out of courtesy call you and let you know all is well.

I had a biopsy done and it took the surgeon 25 days to notify me that I had cancer. She knew she screwed up so instead of picking up the phone she sent me certifed letter I had to sign for....I was way ahead of her and had gotten my results myself and had already seen another Doctor. I would never go back to her ever. So I am a believer in picking up the phone and asking about my results.

Let us know what your results are.

Oleander

bavarianwench · 03-30-2009, 09:58 AM

Hi Oleander, Thank you for your reply. I was shocked to read that it had taken sooo long by your former derm! I would have been livid! Good thing that you were "ahead of the game". I hope things turned out well for you and all has healed.
Yes, my follow up is April 22nd..but I'll take your advice and call this Thursday about the biopsy. Thank you! V

Chele60 · 03-30-2009, 11:58 AM

Hello and welcome!

It can take quite a bit of time for a biopsy return, unfortunately, depending on the pathology lab and how busy they are. But, as Oleander states, you really do need to be your own advocate.

My doctor called me 2 days after taking the biopsy to inform me of my cancer. (And I sort of knew something was really, really wrong, because we kept playing "phone tag" all day, and the no one in her office would tell me what was up - she insisted on speaking to me directly.) The results of the other biopsies I learned the results within a week, and I ended up having to call. (all were negative)

I wouldn't wait, though. Give it a week, then call. If you make a pest of yourself, they'll want to get the results just to get rid of you, if nothing else!

bavarianwench · 03-30-2009, 02:57 PM

Hi Chele60! Thanks for your reply and the welcome. I am sorry to hear of the dx that both you and Oleander had heard. It is a scary thing. As many other "beach girls" I grew up in the 60s and hung out on the beach getting fried every summer,then came the tanning beds, i did both. All i cared about was getting that tan and never used a sunscreen. I was a surfer and then a scuba diver. I love the ocean and the sun. Now, i am paying for having been careless.
On Wednesday it will have been a week, so, I'll call them on Thursday. The reason I'm so anxious is that I was born with a strawberrybirthmark, the size of a silver dolllar on my back. When i was only 2 days old, they removed it with radiation. Wednesday they did a biopsy on a part of that spot where it looked like an actinic keratosis had formed. Also another biopsy right near it.. that was my first time to a derm for anything sun related. I also had 4 actinic keratoses frozen on wednesday. I had some on the skin inside of my eyebrows! One on my nose and one on my forehead. They are now crusting over a bit and are the size of a pencil eraser.
Did you have basal cell? Thank you ladies, for the good info! Veronika