Anonymous wrote:DD 14 is has a bone lesion in her jaw. They think it is likely either a benign bone condition (no treatment needed), or a benign tumor (would need removal). So the good news is that whatever it is, it is most likely benign. The oral surgeon is doing a biopsy next week and told us it will take 6-8 weeks to get the results.

This is such a stressful time. I personally want to crawl into a hole and stay there, but I know I need to be strong for my daughter. She seems to be doing okay so far.
If anyone has a teen with a serious medical condition, or a teen that has undergone serious medical testing please help. I need advice on how to get through the next several weeks while we wait for the results. How should I act? What should I do? I'm super stressed. Please help!

A lot of hospitals can analyze the sample which may or may not be covered by your insurance. As the parent you can request to have part of the biopsy sample sent to another place for a second opinion, which may take much less time to get a reading.

I would trust the doctor’s reassurance. When we were going through a medical issue with my DD, our ped told me two things: 1) cancer in kids is hard to miss, and 2) doctors, labs, hospitals move very quickly when they suspect a kid might have cancer. I really don’t think you have anything to worry about, but I totally get it. When my anxiety flares, I try to remind myself that my fears are only thoughts and they have no bearing on the outcome. Good luck!

I totally feel for you as a fellow mom with health anxiety. I think even non-anxious moms would have some anxiety - it’s your child! But, it really does sound positive. I would gently question the 8 week thing though...maybe you already know why that is, but I’ve never heard of anything like that - I’d want a clear explanation about the reason for the wait and to know if there are alternatives (other pathology labs, etc)

OP here. Thanks again for all the thoughtful responses. It's definitely going to be a long 8 weeks, but I am going to think positive thoughts and make the most of this time.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for the thoughtful responses. I keep reminding myself how lucky we are that the lesion looks benign, I realize things could be much worse. I am going to try and make the most of these next 8 weeks. I have major health anxiety so this is incredibly stressful for me, but I don't want to project that onto my daughter. I think I will try and plan some fun, (covid friendly) weekend activities for the next several weeks.

I agree with the others, do your best to act normal. But I do think it is ok to express some healthy worry. You’d be anxious to hear results from a math test or a college application, of course you would await medical news with similar feelings. I lost a teen sibling to cancer and everyone was so positive throughout the whole ordeal that I was gobsmacked when she died. So if she expresses a little bit of worry, I think sharing that medical tests being out those feelings, and it is perfectly normal to have those feelings because these tests have a way of making you acutely aware of how fragile our health can be. And although it is so very likely benign, the result will tell you if she needs a surgery, which isn’t insignificant. My best to you as you pass the time these next few weeks, waiting for a good result!

Biopsy turnaround time is supposed to be 2 days. I would put some (respectful) pressure on people. Pathology departments make a lot of mistakes, including loosing cases.

If it helps, there is NO WAY a biopsy would take that long if they had even the slightest concern it was anything but benign. So you have to wait a long time to find out which benign thing it is, but there is guarantees to be no sign of malignancy in the slightest if it’s going to take this long. When I have had to have biopsies on masses because of how they looked, the runaround was literally 2 days. For procedure and then another 2 for results. So try to focus on that! It’s good news it’s not being rushed.

No advice OP but a big hug. I would be out of my mind if my 14 year old DD had to deal with this. However, as a cancer survivor, I have also learned that something isnt cancer unless they tell you it is, and believe me, they will NOT TELL YOU that its most likely benign unless they are 99.99% sure.

Im serious. They wont do it. SO breathe a bit easier.

In fact, due to lawsuits, no doctor these days will say anything is probably nothing ever. Unless, again, they are 99.99% sure.

I had a benign fat necrosis after my mastectomy, and my surgeon flat out said she has seen things like this that turned out to be cancer when she thought they werent, so I had to wait for results. I was able to glean hints she thought it was benign, but she was tightlipped!

It was benign.

Relax and enjoy ordinary everyday things with your daughter and believe it will be ok. Good medicine.

You're a great Mom to be worried about how your behavior will affect her. I had a biopsy at 14 and I just want to say that I was entirely unconcerned. I was a teenager, so I felt invincible She's probably not too worried.

When we we waiting for some big test results on my son, my aunt told me not to "borrow worry." She said one day down the line there might actually be something to worry about, so don't spend a second I don't HAVE TO worrying. It really helped me.

All the best to you both.

OP here. Thank you for the thoughtful responses. I keep reminding myself how lucky we are that the lesion looks benign, I realize things could be much worse. I am going to try and make the most of these next 8 weeks. I have major health anxiety so this is incredibly stressful for me, but I don't want to project that onto my daughter. I think I will try and plan some fun, (covid friendly) weekend activities for the next several weeks.

It's benign, so no big deal, OP. Really. I had a bone tumor removed from the back of my skull at 16. Jaw is definitely more involved a surgery, but my point is that it's all going to be fine no matter the diagnosis. My good friend is waiting to take another scan to double check if his cancer has returned for a THIRD TIME - and if it has, he's out of options. Now that's a horrible wait for you.

OP, I'm so sorry and surprised that it would take that long. If it were me, I'd plan everything I'd do if the diagnosis came back positive. That would help me calm down and feel in control. I also have had health anxiety so I tell myself that I'm fine until I have a diagnosis, and then just enjoy my time until something *might* change. Be good to yourself!

Put it out of your mind, since there's nothing to do. Except, don't get a sunburn. Because if you get surgery where you have a sunburn your scar will be more significant.

Act normal. Do nothing except the normal stuff.

DD 14 is has a bone lesion in her jaw. They think it is likely either a benign bone condition (no treatment needed), or a benign tumor (would need removal). So the good news is that whatever it is, it is most likely benign. The oral surgeon is doing a biopsy next week and told us it will take 6-8 weeks to get the results.

This is such a stressful time. I personally want to crawl into a hole and stay there, but I know I need to be strong for my daughter. She seems to be doing okay so far.
If anyone has a teen with a serious medical condition, or a teen that has undergone serious medical testing please help. I need advice on how to get through the next several weeks while we wait for the results. How should I act? What should I do? I'm super stressed. Please help!