Wow--Have to wait months for possible cancer to be checked

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a suspicious lump. The soonest I can get a second scan and biopsy is in September.

I called another radiology company. They said they can't use the film from the first company and they are scheduling 5-8 weeks out just for a diagnostic test.

Anyone else in a similar boat? This is nuts.

Why is it nuts? You have to wait for your turn. September is only next month.

She has a suspicious lump, PP. While most are benign, as someone with BC I can assure you that her concerns are valid. “Wait your turn?” How many threads to you s**t on daily? Do better.

Have you tried Community Radiology, OP? Also, I would call your OB to see if they can get anything expedited on your behalf.

Seconding community radiology, they have a ton of locations so if you're willing to drive you can be seen much sooner.

They do not have centralized scheduling. I've called and spoken to schedulers for six or seven locations. All of them are scheduling into September.

No other place (Luminis, Adventist, etc) can get me in any earlier.

Part of the reason is that I have to drive a CD to their office and drop it off. The images can not be sent electronically. I would have to take time off to drive them to the office so a radiologist could review them. The review takes two to three days.

So, I am stuck waiting until whenever and will hope this lump does not move cancer into my lymph nodes.

OP

Take time off OP and bring the DC to their office! I had to take time off and drive all over and do backflips to get my son's serious health issue diagnosed and treated. It was inconvenient and exhausting and it meant no promotion for me and fear of losing work.

I have empathy for you, but I don't get the sense you have any empathy for what life is like for healthcare professionals. They too develop serious health issues and while dealing with difficult patients, crazy caseloads, difficult work hours and burnout, they have to wait around for results, and do backflips to get their own health issues addressed.

[Anonymous]

Sorry CD not DC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Suspicious” according to whom? If that’s based on a screening mammogram, IME they should be able to get you in sooner. Otherwise, agree with PPs - waiting a few weeks (not months) is pretty standard.

According to the radiologist who wrote the report on my breast MRI film.

OP

Is it an MRI biopsy?

What is the BIRADS (“suspicious” is not how radiologists communicate a biopsy needs to be biopsies)?

I have had them all (and had breast cancer). All of my follow up imaging takes a while to get scheduled, but any time I have needed a biopsy, it gets scheduled within a few days. And then is across health systems.

If you give some more info, I can try to help you.

My biopsy is scheduled 41 days from my MRI.

OP

To answer your question about the suspicious aspect, Birads-4 is described as this by the American Cancer Society: "Suspicious abnormality – Biopsy should be considered."

More:

"The findings in this category can have a wide range of suspicion levels. For this reason, this category is often divided further:

4A: Finding with a low likelihood of being cancer (more than 2% but no more than 10%)

4B: Finding with a moderate likelihood of being cancer (more than 10% but no more than 50%)

4C: Finding with a high likelihood of being cancer (more than 50% but less than 95%), but not as high as Category 5"

Do you know if your Birads is 4a, b, or c?

Your experience is wild to me. I have a lot of experience with biopsies and breast cancer and they always get me in for the biopsies ASAP. Have you tried calling and talking to another scheduler? They always save spots for people who need things like this. It is very different from scheduling a screening test.

Where are you located?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“Suspicious” according to whom? If that’s based on a screening mammogram, IME they should be able to get you in sooner. Otherwise, agree with PPs - waiting a few weeks (not months) is pretty standard.

According to the radiologist who wrote the report on my breast MRI film.

OP

Is it an MRI biopsy?

What is the BIRADS (“suspicious” is not how radiologists communicate a biopsy needs to be biopsies)?

I have had them all (and had breast cancer). All of my follow up imaging takes a while to get scheduled, but any time I have needed a biopsy, it gets scheduled within a few days. And then is across health systems.

If you give some more info, I can try to help you.

My biopsy is scheduled 41 days from my MRI.

OP

To answer your question about the suspicious aspect, Birads-4 is described as this by the American Cancer Society: "Suspicious abnormality – Biopsy should be considered."

More:

"The findings in this category can have a wide range of suspicion levels. For this reason, this category is often divided further:

4A: Finding with a low likelihood of being cancer (more than 2% but no more than 10%)

4B: Finding with a moderate likelihood of being cancer (more than 10% but no more than 50%)

4C: Finding with a high likelihood of being cancer (more than 50% but less than 95%), but not as high as Category 5"

Do you know if your Birads is 4a, b, or c?

Your experience is wild to me. I have a lot of experience with biopsies and breast cancer and they always get me in for the biopsies ASAP. Have you tried calling and talking to another scheduler? They always save spots for people who need things like this. It is very different from scheduling a screening test.

Where are you located?

Also, I wouldn’t worry too much about it progressing in this time. Cancer doesn’t usually move that fast. It is more the mental/emotional side of not knowing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a suspicious lump. The soonest I can get a second scan and biopsy is in September.

I called another radiology company. They said they can't use the film from the first company and they are scheduling 5-8 weeks out just for a diagnostic test.

Anyone else in a similar boat? This is nuts.

Why is it nuts? You have to wait for your turn. September is only next month.

She has a suspicious lump, PP. While most are benign, as someone with BC I can assure you that her concerns are valid. “Wait your turn?” How many threads to you s**t on daily? Do better.

Have you tried Community Radiology, OP? Also, I would call your OB to see if they can get anything expedited on your behalf.

Seconding community radiology, they have a ton of locations so if you're willing to drive you can be seen much sooner.

They do not have centralized scheduling. I've called and spoken to schedulers for six or seven locations. All of them are scheduling into September.

No other place (Luminis, Adventist, etc) can get me in any earlier.

Part of the reason is that I have to drive a CD to their office and drop it off. The images can not be sent electronically. I would have to take time off to drive them to the office so a radiologist could review them. The review takes two to three days.

So, I am stuck waiting until whenever and will hope this lump does not move cancer into my lymph nodes.

OP

Take time off OP and bring the DC to their office! I had to take time off and drive all over and do backflips to get my son's serious health issue diagnosed and treated. It was inconvenient and exhausting and it meant no promotion for me and fear of losing work.

I have empathy for you, but I don't get the sense you have any empathy for what life is like for healthcare professionals. They too develop serious health issues and while dealing with difficult patients, crazy caseloads, difficult work hours and burnout, they have to wait around for results, and do backflips to get their own health issues addressed.

Your post is not relevant to the topic at hand. I'm sorry you had to drive around working on medical appointments for your child.

The point of this thread is that we all should not have to wait this long, but some want to argue that we are entitled if we think the care should be better. I think they are sheep primed to do whatever the corporate overlords tell them to do, and they think I am entitled because I want to stop my possible growing cancer.

If you are taking issue with me not picking up the CD, doing so will not get me in any earlier so there is not point to doing that.

OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had an abnormal stool sample (and symptoms that caused my GP to order a stool sample). Found in May. Referred to GI and couldn't get an appointment til mid July. Colonoscopy scheduled for mid September. Active duty Tricare Prime. 4 months to see if I have colon cancer.

It’s the reality, but that doesn’t mean it’s not upsetting. OP’s concerns don’t reflect entitlement - she has a mass that is suspicious for cancer, and the number of people who have been fighting with her…that’s just a disgrace. Okay, the health system is what it is - others here have had to wait a long time too - but to say she is “blessed” and not offer up even a morsel of compassion, really sucks. People will argue about anything on here.

When I went through BC I found enormous support on the health forum, from biopsy onward. It honestly made a difference. Things must’ve changed around here.

I'm the poster you're replying to and I meant mine in solidarity and commiseration with OP. Just another example of waiting and worrying and feeling powerless to get in to appointments in a timely manner. It's not ok!

Thank you, you guys. I appreciate the sentiment and the acknowledgment of the rude and mean posters on this thread. They must have sad lives. Marshall Rosenberg says anger reflects an unmet need, so I figure they have some sort of need not being met.

OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sorry you’re getting this response, OP. I know what it feels like to have to wait.



For OP: as others suggesting, sometimes it's a matter of calling around and being politely and respectfully determined. I have been through this with my own health issues and for my child with medical issues. You do the research and decide where there's a will there's a way. That said, a few weeks is reasonable and if they find something, things will move VERY quickly. Been there! Good luck and I hope it's all benign!

Thank you. I already called around, and none can do it any sooner.

I hope you and your child will be okay.

OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a suspicious lump. The soonest I can get a second scan and biopsy is in September.

I called another radiology company. They said they can't use the film from the first company and they are scheduling 5-8 weeks out just for a diagnostic test.

Anyone else in a similar boat? This is nuts.

Do you own a calendar? September is in 3 weeks.

I had to wait 4 weeks for my biopsy this is typical. I was not offered a second scan.

Is it really necessary to be derisive toward someone who is worried about her health? Why the snark? FFS, it takes so little to be kind. But you, and PPs, cannot manage it.

Not the person you are responding to, but it is harder to take someone seriously when the story keeps changing. The post title implies several months, but then OP says in the post it's next month. Many of us have been there. Then later on it comes out that there may be other options, but that would entail OP having to take time off and drive her CD to other places. Yet, she presumably wants overworked medical professionals to prioritize her care and somehow add a few hours to their sometimes 80 hour work week. There is an explosion in cancer and fewer health professionals. They prioritize based on severity and when you call. She then says this is just unacceptable. What is her solution exactly| Produce more health professionals out of thin air or bump her in front of people with more severe health issues? Then you have people saying this country is the worst? Do you know people in Canada and Europe? I do and it's not on common to have insane wait times-even years for some things. Also, saying this is worse than any other country is comical. Go try a 3rd world country.

Life is highly stressful. Many of us have been through terrible things, but we also have perspective. Waiting a few weeks and then quickly getting treatment if something is found is fortunate, not a broken system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a suspicious lump. The soonest I can get a second scan and biopsy is in September.

I called another radiology company. They said they can't use the film from the first company and they are scheduling 5-8 weeks out just for a diagnostic test.

Anyone else in a similar boat? This is nuts.

Do you own a calendar? September is in 3 weeks.

I had to wait 4 weeks for my biopsy this is typical. I was not offered a second scan.

Is it really necessary to be derisive toward someone who is worried about her health? Why the snark? FFS, it takes so little to be kind. But you, and PPs, cannot manage it.

Not the person you are responding to, but it is harder to take someone seriously when the story keeps changing. The post title implies several months, but then OP says in the post it's next month. Many of us have been there. Then later on it comes out that there may be other options, but that would entail OP having to take time off and drive her CD to other places. Yet, she presumably wants overworked medical professionals to prioritize her care and somehow add a few hours to their sometimes 80 hour work week. There is an explosion in cancer and fewer health professionals. They prioritize based on severity and when you call. She then says this is just unacceptable. What is her solution exactly| Produce more health professionals out of thin air or bump her in front of people with more severe health issues? Then you have people saying this country is the worst? Do you know people in Canada and Europe? I do and it's not on common to have insane wait times-even years for some things. Also, saying this is worse than any other country is comical. Go try a 3rd world country.

Life is highly stressful. Many of us have been through terrible things, but we also have perspective. Waiting a few weeks and then quickly getting treatment if something is found is fortunate, not a broken system.

But not getting scheduled for a biopsy ASAP for a breast lump is not standard. Waiting between screening and diagnostic mammogram is more normal. But they almost always get you in within a few days for the biopsy. This has been my experience at Inova, Sibley, and Fairfax Radiology. Also for friends who have gone through this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a suspicious lump. The soonest I can get a second scan and biopsy is in September.

I called another radiology company. They said they can't use the film from the first company and they are scheduling 5-8 weeks out just for a diagnostic test.

Anyone else in a similar boat? This is nuts.

Do you own a calendar? September is in 3 weeks.

I had to wait 4 weeks for my biopsy this is typical. I was not offered a second scan.

Is it really necessary to be derisive toward someone who is worried about her health? Why the snark? FFS, it takes so little to be kind. But you, and PPs, cannot manage it.

Not the person you are responding to, but it is harder to take someone seriously when the story keeps changing. The post title implies several months, but then OP says in the post it's next month. Many of us have been there. Then later on it comes out that there may be other options, but that would entail OP having to take time off and drive her CD to other places. Yet, she presumably wants overworked medical professionals to prioritize her care and somehow add a few hours to their sometimes 80 hour work week. There is an explosion in cancer and fewer health professionals. They prioritize based on severity and when you call. She then says this is just unacceptable. What is her solution exactly| Produce more health professionals out of thin air or bump her in front of people with more severe health issues? Then you have people saying this country is the worst? Do you know people in Canada and Europe? I do and it's not on common to have insane wait times-even years for some things. Also, saying this is worse than any other country is comical. Go try a 3rd world country.

Life is highly stressful. Many of us have been through terrible things, but we also have perspective. Waiting a few weeks and then quickly getting treatment if something is found is fortunate, not a broken system.

Your response is unreal to me. Not OP, not a PP. IT IS NOT A PATIENT’S FAULT IF PER YOUR FAIRY TALE, A PROVIDER HAS 80 HOUR WEEKS SO THINGS ARE DELAYED AND SLIP. What that is, is an example of the overall strain and inefficiency of obtaining routine, let alone acute, care. It’s ridiculous! It’s okay to want a better-functioning system, where health insurance gets you in reasonably quickly for diagnostic exams. That’s different from the whole rigamarole of scheduling annuals. Your perspective is not “zen.”

Take your halo and cram it. OP did not make Saint RN MD NP or whoever you’re who’re-knighting take that job. She’s not blaming any individual. Grow up.

[Anonymous]

If you’ve got cancer, OP, you need to get used to picking up CDs at one place and driving them to another place. You’re going to have to do that a lot. You do have to take off work for it. Anyone with any chronic or acute serious health issue has to do a lot of administrative crap to get medical treatment.

[Anonymous]

I find OP frustrating and entitled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a suspicious lump. The soonest I can get a second scan and biopsy is in September.

I called another radiology company. They said they can't use the film from the first company and they are scheduling 5-8 weeks out just for a diagnostic test.

Anyone else in a similar boat? This is nuts.

Do you own a calendar? September is in 3 weeks.

I had to wait 4 weeks for my biopsy this is typical. I was not offered a second scan.

Is it really necessary to be derisive toward someone who is worried about her health? Why the snark? FFS, it takes so little to be kind. But you, and PPs, cannot manage it.

Not the person you are responding to, but it is harder to take someone seriously when the story keeps changing. The post title implies several months, but then OP says in the post it's next month. Many of us have been there. Then later on it comes out that there may be other options, but that would entail OP having to take time off and drive her CD to other places. Yet, she presumably wants overworked medical professionals to prioritize her care and somehow add a few hours to their sometimes 80 hour work week. There is an explosion in cancer and fewer health professionals. They prioritize based on severity and when you call. She then says this is just unacceptable. What is her solution exactly| Produce more health professionals out of thin air or bump her in front of people with more severe health issues? Then you have people saying this country is the worst? Do you know people in Canada and Europe? I do and it's not on common to have insane wait times-even years for some things. Also, saying this is worse than any other country is comical. Go try a 3rd world country.

Life is highly stressful. Many of us have been through terrible things, but we also have perspective. Waiting a few weeks and then quickly getting treatment if something is found is fortunate, not a broken system.

But not getting scheduled for a biopsy ASAP for a breast lump is not standard. Waiting between screening and diagnostic mammogram is more normal. But they almost always get you in within a few days for the biopsy. This has been my experience at Inova, Sibley, and Fairfax Radiology. Also for friends who have gone through this.

I had a mammogram earlier this month, a follow up mammogram and ultrasound on the next business day, and am scheduled for a biopsy next week. So, it’s scheduled to take two weeks right now from my initial mammogram to the scheduled biopsy date.

The facility mentioned they are unusually busy, and I am on the list to call if there are any cancellations.

OP, this sounds like a long time to wait to me. I hope we both get some answers soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find OP frustrating and entitled.

I don’t and most sane people here don’t, either. I can help you here: you can go screw and try to find a team of therapists to figure why you’re a nasty znatch to someone trying to get a cancer assessment within a reasonable time frame. Best of luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find OP frustrating and entitled.

It is not entitled to want to find out if you have cancer after a doctor determines something is suspicious. Maybe it isn’t possible for OP to speed up the wait, but there is nothing entitled about not wanting to wait 6 weeks for a biopsy. I can assure you it is not normal course to have to wait that long for a breast biopsy. And even if it were, a little empathy wouldn’t kill some of you. I hope it is just that you have never had to deal with a serious health issue and lack the understanding of how difficult it can be. Because if you have and you still act like this, man.