Waiting sucks

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Survivor73
Survivor73 Member Posts: 135
in Breast Cancer #1
Hi All. How do you deal with the waiting?? Everyone says, no news is good news...but really? I just want to know.

Had a fnb in Dec, showed suspicious of mucinous carcinoma...so had a lumpectomy on Jan 19th...still waiting to hear from the surgeon for pathology...my family Dr is trying to get results for me, but haven't heard anything still.

Have an appt on Monday and will finally get results, but why don't they just call...

It's so frustrating...I keep imagining the worse...

Ok, I've complained enough.
thanks for listening.

Comments

  • Heatherbelle
    Heatherbelle Member Posts: 1,226 Member
    #2
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    waiting sucks.
    Ugh the waiting is just the hardest, isn't it?
    I personally don't to well with it at ALL, and I had to take xanax while I was waiting for my path reports after my biopsy.
    Don't feel like you're complaining too much though - this site is our sounding board & feel free to vent, cry, b*tch, complain, and whine to your heart's content on here :)
    I hope you have as restful a weekend as you possibly can, considering. Please let us know how your appointment goes on Monday. It does seem like an awfully long time for them to get your results to you -you poor thing you must be on pins & needles.
    *hugs*
    Heather
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #3
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    Sorry you are waiting
    HONESTLY-I dont' worry while waiting-I KNOW I am odd one...since all my cancer started 3 yrs ago this JAN-I have not! I wish you luck getting results ASAP...perhaps it has to do with weather in your area (getting tests out etc if snow and ice-)

    KEEP us updated when you get them...

    Denise W.

    why they don't call-mmmmm I found out cancer via phone and then bone scan had to go in office to talk...

    Try NOT to imagine the worse-that can be good when not as bad as you thought-but can really be hard on yourself...

    i'll be checking back for update

    (Denise)
  • dyaneb123
    dyaneb123 Member Posts: 950
    #4
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    disneyfan2008 said:

    Sorry you are waiting
    HONESTLY-I dont' worry while waiting-I KNOW I am odd one...since all my cancer started 3 yrs ago this JAN-I have not! I wish you luck getting results ASAP...perhaps it has to do with weather in your area (getting tests out etc if snow and ice-)

    KEEP us updated when you get them...

    Denise W.

    why they don't call-mmmmm I found out cancer via phone and then bone scan had to go in office to talk...

    Try NOT to imagine the worse-that can be good when not as bad as you thought-but can really be hard on yourself...

    i'll be checking back for update

    (Denise)

    Ok NO ONE should have to
    Ok NO ONE should have to wait almost a MONTH for pathology reports on a lumpectomy!!!!! That is insane! My surgeon was able to tell me mine the next morning. No wonder you are so anxious....anyone would be.....but I can't imagine that if there was bad news they would have waited so long to tell you....so think positive. And let us know what you find out.
    Dee
  • pinkflutterby
    pinkflutterby Member Posts: 615 Member
    #5
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    dyaneb123 said:

    Ok NO ONE should have to
    Ok NO ONE should have to wait almost a MONTH for pathology reports on a lumpectomy!!!!! That is insane! My surgeon was able to tell me mine the next morning. No wonder you are so anxious....anyone would be.....but I can't imagine that if there was bad news they would have waited so long to tell you....so think positive. And let us know what you find out.
    Dee

    O how I hate waiting too!!!
    O how I hate waiting too!!! A month is long!!! tooooooo long. Please let us know how it goes Monday Ü
  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    #6
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    No Need To Wait
    The only waiting I ever do is the time it takes for a doctor to read a test and dictate the findings or labs to process and then send the results to medical records. The results are there at the medical records of the hospital that did your surgery. All you will need to do is once a year, sign a form that states this information is to be release to you. Usually they have the forms or you can go online and find it with the hospital that test or surgery were performed.

    Some test do take time if they need to be sent out of state. I can have my blood test results in 1/2 hour. I know that the Ct, PET, Bone, MRI will be ready in 24 hours. I can also obtain the surgeon's notes dictated about the procedure.

    You can read the results as well as anyone. If you don't understand medical words, there are medical dictionaries online or you can purchase one.

    The results are = you don't stress for a long period of time.

    2) You are ready with questions when you see your doctor. If the news is bad, you would have gotten over the shock and be prepared to inquire about the next step. Instead of wasting time processing the results and wasting precious doctors time.

    If the news is good well, you enter with a smile on your face instead of looking as though the world has ended.

    The results are yours. You paid for them. Why stress out for no good reason!

    Hope this helps you.

    Doris
  • ladyg
    ladyg Member Posts: 1,577
    #7
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    I'm sorry you have had to wait so long.
    Waiting is the worst part. I just want to know right away and then move on from there. I truely hope that all of this waiting is for good results. I do believe this to be the case otherwise I am sure thay would have called right away.
    Keeping a good thought for you.

    Hugs,
    Georgia
  • sal314
    sal314 Member Posts: 599 Member
    #8
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    Go Ahead and Complain All You Want!...
    that's what this board is hear for! And I don't blame you for being anxious and frustrated. I think it's about time they get back to you! Usually it's a 2-4 day wait! I'd be more than a little upset.

    Hang in there! :)


    Blessings,

    Sally
  • pinkkari09
    pinkkari09 Member Posts: 877
    #9
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    The Waiting Game
    So sorry you are going through this, that's an awful long time to wait. I usually never wait more than three days on path results. PET scans and MRI's I get the same day. Hang in there sister and lean on us! Please let us know how it turns out.
    Miles of Love,
    ~Kari
  • Survivor73
    Survivor73 Member Posts: 135
    #10
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    sal314 said:

    Go Ahead and Complain All You Want!...
    that's what this board is hear for! And I don't blame you for being anxious and frustrated. I think it's about time they get back to you! Usually it's a 2-4 day wait! I'd be more than a little upset.

    Hang in there! :)


    Blessings,

    Sally

    Still waiting
    Hi All. Thanks for your comments.

    I called the surgeons secretary today...wanted to confirm the time for my appt on Mon. She said that they just got the results today, but couldn't send the results to my GP since the surgeon hasn't seen them yet. I asked if they normally call with results and she said never...so, I've been going with the no news is good news...everyone tells me that if it was bad, I would get a call...so much for that...the surgeon hasn't seen the pathology yet.

    I still don't get why it takes 16 days for results...

    Regarding the info from the medical records, does anyone know if this is applicable in Canada? I'm dealing with a hospital in Toronto = Princess Margaret...it's supposed to be one of the best for this.

    Everything else has been done pretty quickly, my fnb was done & results in 1 day...it was sent to my GP & she called me...she always calls when she gets results so I make sure she gets copies...

    Anyway, today was a really bad day...had a migraine...worst one ever. I was sick about 5 times & the pain never went away. I finally got up at around 11:30pm - went to bed at 3:30pm after getting up at 1:30pm. Had to get a neighbour to take my son with him to pick up my daughter from plasp (after school program). I just couldn't drive to pick her up. My son was great - he's 13 and is so wonderful...I thank God for him...but I worry about always dumping on him...I'm trying not to, but hubby works until 7 every day & we have to pick up my daughter by 6.

    My neighbour went through chemo a few years ago - bowel cancer...she's clear now. She has been really supportive, but it's so hard to ask for help. I'm so independant normally - can't stand not being able to do normal day to day stuff...

    My kids were home on Wed due to a snow day...so I got up with them and tried to stay awake all day...I passed out at 2 and napped until 4:30 on the couch - they just went downstairs and played video games, etc...and let me sleep. They really are wonderful...:)

    So, I will find out on Monday...hubby is going with me for my appt...I told him he had no choice LOL. He just started a new job in Dec so time off is difficult, but I don't really care - there are always other jobs.

    Anyway, thanks for letting me vent...I just want to know...and then get on with treatment, etc. OK, so I'm hoping for not needing treatment, but I don't think that's likely...
    I know, stay positive...but with the biopsy being suspicious, my lymph nodes being inflamed, but now normal...I think the writing is on the wall.

    My sister was about the same age as me when she was diagnosed with BC...we both had thyroid cancer first.

    OK, so I should try to sleep - so I've slept for about 21 out of the last 24 hrs...sleep is my friend lately.

    Take care all...hope everyone is well.
  • pbrndm5
    pbrndm5 Member Posts: 83
    #11
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    pinkkari09 said:

    The Waiting Game
    So sorry you are going through this, that's an awful long time to wait. I usually never wait more than three days on path results. PET scans and MRI's I get the same day. Hang in there sister and lean on us! Please let us know how it turns out.
    Miles of Love,
    ~Kari

    waiting
    I can feel for you. It seems like all you do is hurry up and wait. Hang in there---we are all in this together
    Hugs!!!!
  • fauxma
    fauxma Member Posts: 3,577 Member
    #12
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    pbrndm5 said:

    waiting
    I can feel for you. It seems like all you do is hurry up and wait. Hang in there---we are all in this together
    Hugs!!!!

    I hope your wait ends soon.
    I hope your wait ends soon. Waiting is one of the most stressful parts of all of this.
    Stef
  • CandaceMM
    CandaceMM Member Posts: 68
    #13
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    Survivor73 said:

    Still waiting
    Hi All. Thanks for your comments.

    I called the surgeons secretary today...wanted to confirm the time for my appt on Mon. She said that they just got the results today, but couldn't send the results to my GP since the surgeon hasn't seen them yet. I asked if they normally call with results and she said never...so, I've been going with the no news is good news...everyone tells me that if it was bad, I would get a call...so much for that...the surgeon hasn't seen the pathology yet.

    I still don't get why it takes 16 days for results...

    Regarding the info from the medical records, does anyone know if this is applicable in Canada? I'm dealing with a hospital in Toronto = Princess Margaret...it's supposed to be one of the best for this.

    Everything else has been done pretty quickly, my fnb was done & results in 1 day...it was sent to my GP & she called me...she always calls when she gets results so I make sure she gets copies...

    Anyway, today was a really bad day...had a migraine...worst one ever. I was sick about 5 times & the pain never went away. I finally got up at around 11:30pm - went to bed at 3:30pm after getting up at 1:30pm. Had to get a neighbour to take my son with him to pick up my daughter from plasp (after school program). I just couldn't drive to pick her up. My son was great - he's 13 and is so wonderful...I thank God for him...but I worry about always dumping on him...I'm trying not to, but hubby works until 7 every day & we have to pick up my daughter by 6.

    My neighbour went through chemo a few years ago - bowel cancer...she's clear now. She has been really supportive, but it's so hard to ask for help. I'm so independant normally - can't stand not being able to do normal day to day stuff...

    My kids were home on Wed due to a snow day...so I got up with them and tried to stay awake all day...I passed out at 2 and napped until 4:30 on the couch - they just went downstairs and played video games, etc...and let me sleep. They really are wonderful...:)

    So, I will find out on Monday...hubby is going with me for my appt...I told him he had no choice LOL. He just started a new job in Dec so time off is difficult, but I don't really care - there are always other jobs.

    Anyway, thanks for letting me vent...I just want to know...and then get on with treatment, etc. OK, so I'm hoping for not needing treatment, but I don't think that's likely...
    I know, stay positive...but with the biopsy being suspicious, my lymph nodes being inflamed, but now normal...I think the writing is on the wall.

    My sister was about the same age as me when she was diagnosed with BC...we both had thyroid cancer first.

    OK, so I should try to sleep - so I've slept for about 21 out of the last 24 hrs...sleep is my friend lately.

    Take care all...hope everyone is well.

    It def sucks!!
    The mental waiting game is definitely causing me grief! So sorry this is happening to you. Good luck on Monday, keep us posted.
  • roseann4
    roseann4 Member Posts: 992 Member
    #14
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    fauxma said:

    I hope your wait ends soon.
    I hope your wait ends soon. Waiting is one of the most stressful parts of all of this.
    Stef

    They gave my results over the phone.
    It was a long wait but I was glad they gave me the news on the phone rather than having to wait for an appt.
    My instincts were that it was bc but my family thought it would be neg. This is one time I wish I had been wrong. Whatever the results, please let us know. Fingers crossed that you get good news.

    Roseann
  • EllenaMaria
    EllenaMaria Member Posts: 69
    #15
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    Sometimes I think we have to
    Sometimes I think we have to be our own advocates. When my lab sent my results to the wrong doc I called their quality control dept and let them know this was unacceptable, especially when they did it to me a second time!

    When my disability ins company said they did not have my records from my doc yet, I called my doc to see what the hold up was. Turns out the ins company never sent them a request. I notified the ins gals boss that this was unacceptable. If I did that to someone in my job I would expect to be called on it too.

    There are times when things just take time. Patience is not easy for some of us, especially when it is regarding our lives. I have really had to work at being patient.
  • taleena
    taleena Member Posts: 1,612 Member
    #16
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    Oh hon.. I know the waiting
    Oh hon.. I know the waiting really sucks... and in this process we really do become the queen/kings of the waiting game... just try to keep yourself as busy as you can... do somethings that you enjoy that can keep you occupied.. nothing that you do will remove it from your mind but trying to stay busy does help. I pray that you get good news... try to hang in there.

    Hugs,
    ~T

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