How long for Mass/Lymph biopsy results after surgery - chance of negative

[blessedmomto3a]

I just had about a 3 cm mass removed from outside my colon near my cecum with partial colon removal (about 6 inches of colon/lymphs) about 12 days ago. The doctor told my family it would be "weeks" to get results. I have an appointment for my follow up next Thursday - hoping they have results by then as that will be 16-17 days. Do you all agree that is enough time? Does it mean anything that it is taking this long to get results? I have read the results can be back as soon as one week - just wondered if more complicated results took longer.

The way the mass was described to my family was it was a mass with a some fat covering it and it would need to be taken apart layer by layer to be examined closely. He said he was "pretty sure" it was be benign but couldn't be sure until results come in.

All I have read with my placement of mass/size, symptoms, etc. it's usually a cancer so I am surprised he seemed so sure. Just wanted to hear experiences from anyone that was in a similar situation (even if you didn't have good results I would still like to know please). I have MANY chronic health problems and am not in very good health to start with. I would just like to know more information.

Blessings to you all! Thank you!
Leah

[2017Jul5Sandy]

If you are living in Canada, it is two weeks. From what you describe, the first appointment after the surgery (next Thu) will be the time the Dr. review the pathological results with you. This is a more precise diagnosis than the biopsy from colonoscopy which is usually taken before the surgery.
Hope this helps,

[Aqx99]

It depends. The pathology on my rectal tumor came back within days. It took almost 6 weeks for them to figure out what was wrong with my ovaries. My surgeon removed them during my LAR because they "didn't look right." Two labs and the tumor board later they determined that the strange cells he found were precursor ovarian cancer.

[NHMike]

My biopsy results came back within a week - I think that it depends somewhat on the queue for the pathologist at the lab where the biopsy is sent. In your case, they sent the whole mass and I'm not familiar with the process for that.

[benben]

I had pathology results back before I even left the hospital. I believe on day 3.
My surgeon came in and checked on me an told me results, but I never received a copy until a few months later
when I asked my ONC. Strangely enough I received my pathology report in paper from my genetic specialist a little over month ago.
Still waiting for the comprehensive genetic tests. My original pathology test 5 or 6 genetic components. All of which came back normal.
Waiting for the complete comprehensive test results.

[NHMike]

I had pathology results back before I even left the hospital. I believe on day 3.
My surgeon came in and checked on me an told me results, but I never received a copy until a few months later
when I asked my ONC. Strangely enough I received my pathology report in paper from my genetic specialist a little over month ago.
Still waiting for the comprehensive genetic tests. My original pathology test 5 or 6 genetic components. All of which came back normal.
Waiting for the complete comprehensive test results.

You were either at a place with an in-house lab or with a very fast delivery service. My biopsy was sent out to the Mayo Clinic (NH to MN) for a reading so I expected at least two days. I think that it was actually four. I'm still waiting for the results of genetic testing to return and I think that it's been three weeks.

I find that the online portals are great for getting lab results and everything else quickly. I have four places that I went to with portals that I've set up and I haven't set up the portal with the Radiology place - not completely sure that they have one. But I can email back and forth with my oncologist through the portal and that's the easiest way to communicate. The alternative was to call the nurse and wait for a call back and that's what I was doing for a while.

[benben]

You were either at a place with an in-house lab or with a very fast delivery service. My biopsy was sent out to the Mayo Clinic (NH to MN) for a reading so I expected at least two days. I think that it was actually four. I'm still waiting for the results of genetic testing to return and I think that it's been three weeks.

I find that the online portals are great for getting lab results and everything else quickly. I have four places that I went to with portals that I've set up and I haven't set up the portal with the Radiology place - not completely sure that they have one. But I can email back and forth with my oncologist through the portal and that's the easiest way to communicate. The alternative was to call the nurse and wait for a call back and that's what I was doing for a while.

My tumor was sent straight away to a lab about 2 hours driving distance from the hospital.
So that probably helped with the quick response time. Unfortunately it was a lab outside of network to my insurance.
So I paid a pretty hefty bill on that one even though I had reached Out of Pocket Maximum with the surgery and all procedures pre surgery.

I've set up a couple online portals. I get all my in house lab results on the portal and that is helpful, although I request printed reports the day of my infusion
so that I can see for myself the bloodwork results and have hard copies. I've noticed several of my old lab results have disappeared on the portal - so I'm glad I have the hard copies.
I've tried emailing my ONC through the portal, but never received responses so if I really need to talk with him I call the Triage Nurse after hours and always get connected with my onc directly.
He probably hates those late night calls, but if that's what it takes ..

Also from my personal standpoint I think the digital side of the healthcare system is lacking.
I can envision a portal that allows patients to simply upload a picture and description of the symptoms they may be having.
Then a nurse, practitioner, doc or whatever could directly respond to the patient input as opposed to telling them to come in and be evaluated.
A huge time saver and load reduction to the Triage Nurse could be realized.

I have HUGE respect for the nurses at my center and nurses in general. They are the ones doing most of the work, right there on the battle front.
They see the best and worst of the patients, all the while maintaining dignity and a caring nature. Unfortunately not all of them are up to snuff on the latest information and drugs.
Reduction of the workload might allow them time to keep up with modern research and information.

[Beckster]

My pathology report took 20 days and it was sent to the in house pathology department. It never left the hospital.....when I received the report, it was only 1 1/2 pages in length. I feel that if you have my specimen for 20 days, it should have been more detailed.

[mpbser]

My husband had two colon masses. The first one was biopsied during a colonoscopy at our local hospital and the pathology report came back 2-3 days afterwards. It was positive for malignancy. After the hemi-colectomy to remove this tumor, the pathology report on the surgical specimen took a few weeks. The specimen had been sent out to the Mayo Clinic.

The second one was biopsied during his 2nd and 3rd colonoscopies. The pathology from the 2nd, done at our local hospital, came back 2-3 days afterwards and the 3rd, done at Brigham & Women's in Boston, came back also a few days afterwards. Both were negative for malignancy; however, the mass has all the features, size, appearance of high grade dysplasia, and invasion into submucosa, of malignancy. At least 1 cm of cells were removed during each biopsy. The theory is that the inside/center of the tumor contains the cancerous cells. We will know for sure when the specimen's pathology report comes back. It was removed last Monday at Massachusetts General Hospital. I don't know how long the turn around is there.

[mpbser]

I just got word from husband's oncologist that the pathology results just came in from last Monday's colectomy. So, that made it about 10 days post surgery.

[Stewsbetty]

I am from Canada and received my pathology 4 days after my Hemi colectomy. I was still in hospital so surgeon brought around with his rounds and went over it with me. It was nice to leave with some definitive answers
Beth