topic Re: Biopsy Question in Wellness

Biopsy Question

Ladygray — Sat, 23 Oct 2021 18:12:14 GMT

My aunt was found with a tumor and they scheduled a biopsy. But, the tumor was detected back on Oct. 6. She's had to wait for a biospy until late next week. And, she suffers from Colitis.

I would think with her Colitis, they would do a biopsy a lot sooner than a 3 week wait.

She doesn't live in my city, so I'm not there to advocate for her. It just seems odd to me that they would wait over 3 weeks to do a biopsy. I had a friend who had a tumor and they did a biopsy within a week of finding it.

Am I wrong for being concerned? Is this standard practice?

Re: Biopsy Question

viva923 — Sat, 23 Oct 2021 18:17:35 GMT

this is not strange to me

my daughter had cancer of they thyroid, she saw a doctor once, they said someone would be contacting her for further details. NOONE CONTACTED HER. I called and called every person I could in the phone book, i finally had to contact my state representative to get the ball rolling, this was 8 weeks total my daughter waited. she finally got her thyroid taken out. this was 7 years ago, looks like not much has changed

Re: Biopsy Question

Mistreatedbycs — Sat, 23 Oct 2021 18:31:39 GMT

@Ladygray

Why do you have to be in the same city to be a advocate?

Pick up the phone and ask around of course pending per permission.

You won't find out any medical info due to HIPA but that's not what you are asking, you want to know why it's not being scheduled sooner.

Good Luck and yes, advocates are very helpful and sometimes needed.

Re: Biopsy Question

Ladygray — Sat, 23 Oct 2021 18:36:03 GMT

@Mistreatedbycs wrote:
@Ladygray

Why do you have to be in the same city to be a advocate?

Pick up the phone and ask around of course pending per permission.

You won't find out any medical info due to HIPA but that's not what you are asking, you want to know why it's not being scheduled sooner.

Good Luck and yes, advocates are very helpful and sometimes needed.

I was my parents' advocate for years as they both died of cancer. My aunt has a daughter, and I am not authorized to ask questions on my aunt's behalf. My aunt called me to tell me of the situation because we talk frequently. The daughter does not talk to me. I am just confused that they would make her wait 3 weeks before a biopsy when she has a very serious auto-immune disease that makes a cancer scare all the more serious.

Re: Biopsy Question

D Kay — Sat, 23 Oct 2021 18:44:11 GMT

Is she in an area where the hospitals are full of Covid patients? Many procedures have been delayed due to that and staffing shortages.

Re: Biopsy Question

Skyegirl21 — Sat, 23 Oct 2021 18:55:07 GMT

Ever since Covid began, there seems to be longer waits for everything, medical and dental appointments too- I've waited 6 weeks for all my appointments... Yes, as the last poster pointed out, I bet it's mainly due to staff shortages everywhere -

Re: Biopsy Question

millieshops — Sat, 23 Oct 2021 19:28:34 GMT

I had a thyroid scan done in mid-September and waited for a follow-up doctor's appointment for 3 weeks after which a biopsy was scheduled - another wait, this time 5 weeks.

Fortunately I do not have major disease going on as far as we know, but the scan showed nodule growth, so...?

Sad to say, the doctor who will do the biopsy is booked and booked and booked. No idea how long emergency biopsies are held up.

Re: Biopsy Question

SXMGirl — Sat, 23 Oct 2021 19:42:18 GMT

@Ladygray Unfortunately, this is not strange. I had my spine surgery cancelled by Medicare and had to call my U.S. Congressman to get it scheduled. If your aunt has any more problems, contact your person in congress.

Re: Biopsy Question

Kachina624 — Sat, 23 Oct 2021 22:30:27 GMT

@D Kay wrote:
Is she in an area where the hospitals are full of Covid patients? Many procedures have been delayed due to that and staffing shortages.

@D Kay Our hospitals in NM are jam-packed full. All optional procedures have been canceled for now.

Re: Biopsy Question

wagirl — Sun, 24 Oct 2021 13:06:44 GMT

Normally I would agree about such a long time for any procedure but especially for a tumor--however with the covid thing and the vaccine mandates I am not surprised at all. My poor SIL is still waiting for surgery on an open wound on her leg that needs vascular surgery ----she made that appointment in August-----and got one for Dec 20th!!!??? I think I would call to see if there is anyway to get a sooner appt--even if it was everyday---I just had to do that with a suspected lump on the area where I had my mastectomy for breast cancer in 2012, would call and leave messages and get no response---kept leaving messages until my I finally got a hold of someone who checked with my oncologist and then she sqeezed me in for a check up--- a few days later--excuses were because there was a staff shortage-----but I was peristant. Maybe aunt needs an advocate to help her out-----any family/friends maybe? Good luck to her.

Re: Biopsy Question

cindyNC — Sun, 24 Oct 2021 15:16:46 GMT

Same thing here. My BF has 5 hernias surrounding his surgical scar from surgery last summer.

The surgeon told us at the first appt that elective surgeries were cancelled for 6 weeks out due to covid. When he went to be cleared by the pulmonologist, he was told surgeries were cancelled even further out.

Fortunately, the surgeon gave his a brace to wear and they don't bother him all that much. They told him to expect a hospital stay of 5-7 days and we've been extra careful of not going to events that have a higher risk of exposure to covid (in spite of being vaccinated)

Re: Biopsy Question

Ladygray — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 01:00:56 GMT

Update today on my aunt. She said they pushed her biopsy out a week from the appointment scheduled this week now because of meds she takes for her colitis.

I asked her why they didn't set all that up with her when they made the biopsy date. She wasn't sure but she was upset that they didn't coordinate that before.

That has nothing to do with a schedling issue. Her daughter is angry as heck too.

How the heck do you forget to take that into consideration. It may not be the surgeon, but the office staff. They make a lot of mistakes.

What a shame, now she has to wait another week to get it done. Shouldn't be this confusing.