How long did it take to get Biopsy Results
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How long did it take to get Biopsy Results

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › How long did it take to get Biopsy Results

  • Post
    • August 16, 2013 at 9:42 pm
    michmart930
    Participant

    Hi everyone.  Sorry if my post seems juvenile.  I don't really know where else to vent my concerns and fears.  If nothing else, this post will help me get what I am feeling off my chest.  I had a small mole (less than the size of a pencil eraser) removed off my lower stomach last week Tuesday.  I noticed the mole changing color and elevation early in my pregnancy (almost a year ago now) and since losing the baby weight and seeing the mole again, I noticed it was black and some parts were black with a dome shaped appearance.

    Hi everyone.  Sorry if my post seems juvenile.  I don't really know where else to vent my concerns and fears.  If nothing else, this post will help me get what I am feeling off my chest.  I had a small mole (less than the size of a pencil eraser) removed off my lower stomach last week Tuesday.  I noticed the mole changing color and elevation early in my pregnancy (almost a year ago now) and since losing the baby weight and seeing the mole again, I noticed it was black and some parts were black with a dome shaped appearance.  Although I don't have a lot of the risk factors for melanoma (I am a dark haired Asian with barely any moles), I have experienced several blistering sunburns and spent almost 12 years (off and on) tanning in beds.  Some of the years I was intensely tanning in beds.  I am now 28, married with 2 children under 2 and am scared my past has come to bite me.  

    I am a bit confused bc I had seen several doctors during my pregnancy and after for other issues and no one pointed out this mole to me as being suspicious.  Even the dermatologist when removing it wasn't concerned.  Said something about cancerous moles usually being "deeper".  I thought all moles that changed colors, especially with it changing to black and dome like, should be considered suspicious.  Now, it  has been 10 days and apparently the lab says the biopsy is still pending, even with 2 different docs calling the lab for an update.  Does this seem long to anyone if the biposy was normal?  I am getting the feeling someone knows something and just isn't telling me.  Here goes another weekend of waiting.  

    Thanks for letting me vent.  So scared.  I think about all those diagnosed and living with this constantly.  My heart goes out to you and your families.  

Viewing 17 reply threads
  • Replies
      • August 16, 2013 at 10:19 pm
      DeniseK
      Participant

      In my experience it has only taken 3-5 days for a biopsy result.  Have you called the doctor who removed it?  He would get the results or can find out how to get them I would think.  

      All my best

      Denise 

      • August 16, 2013 at 10:19 pm
      DeniseK
      Participant

      In my experience it has only taken 3-5 days for a biopsy result.  Have you called the doctor who removed it?  He would get the results or can find out how to get them I would think.  

      All my best

      Denise 

      • August 16, 2013 at 10:19 pm
      DeniseK
      Participant

      In my experience it has only taken 3-5 days for a biopsy result.  Have you called the doctor who removed it?  He would get the results or can find out how to get them I would think.  

      All my best

      Denise 

      • August 16, 2013 at 10:39 pm
      michmart930
      Participant
      Hi Denise,
      Thanks for your response. Supposedly my GP and dermatologist have been calling the lab for an update and its still showing pending. I haven’t gotten any other updates from them. That’s why I’m getting a bad feeling. By 10 days I would assume they could tell me if its normal.
      • August 16, 2013 at 10:58 pm
      Janner
      Participant
      Some places can take two weeks. Past that, I would say a bit unusual. But ten working days is not beyond the norm depending on the lab.
      • August 16, 2013 at 10:58 pm
      Janner
      Participant
      Some places can take two weeks. Past that, I would say a bit unusual. But ten working days is not beyond the norm depending on the lab.
      • August 16, 2013 at 10:58 pm
      Janner
      Participant
      Some places can take two weeks. Past that, I would say a bit unusual. But ten working days is not beyond the norm depending on the lab.
      • August 16, 2013 at 11:20 pm
      POW
      Participant

      Do you live in a small town or way out in the country perhaps? Although most path reports come back in a week, sometimes it may take an additional day 2 or 3 days for the courier service to collect the specimen from a small town and get it to a path lab in the nearest big city.  And depending on what day of the week you had the biopsy, that could run you over a weekend. I know that the waiting is awful, but as Janner said, try to be patient and give them 10 business days. 

      • August 16, 2013 at 11:20 pm
      POW
      Participant

      Do you live in a small town or way out in the country perhaps? Although most path reports come back in a week, sometimes it may take an additional day 2 or 3 days for the courier service to collect the specimen from a small town and get it to a path lab in the nearest big city.  And depending on what day of the week you had the biopsy, that could run you over a weekend. I know that the waiting is awful, but as Janner said, try to be patient and give them 10 business days. 

      • August 16, 2013 at 11:20 pm
      POW
      Participant

      Do you live in a small town or way out in the country perhaps? Although most path reports come back in a week, sometimes it may take an additional day 2 or 3 days for the courier service to collect the specimen from a small town and get it to a path lab in the nearest big city.  And depending on what day of the week you had the biopsy, that could run you over a weekend. I know that the waiting is awful, but as Janner said, try to be patient and give them 10 business days. 

      • August 17, 2013 at 12:19 am
      michmart930
      Participant
      Thank you for all the responses. Waiting is the hardest part. I don’t live in a small town though. I live about an hour outside of NYC in northern NJ. Wish you all well.
      • August 17, 2013 at 7:26 pm
      brooke
      Participant

      Hello!

      I can only imagine your anxiety! When my husband found out he had melanoma, the results were back within a week. He recently went back to the dermatologist to have two other moles removed that appeared normal, but we were being safe. It took almost two weeks for the results to come back as normal.

      I know all labs are different, but hopefully your situation is similar!

      Good luck!

      Brooke

      • August 17, 2013 at 7:26 pm
      brooke
      Participant

      Hello!

      I can only imagine your anxiety! When my husband found out he had melanoma, the results were back within a week. He recently went back to the dermatologist to have two other moles removed that appeared normal, but we were being safe. It took almost two weeks for the results to come back as normal.

      I know all labs are different, but hopefully your situation is similar!

      Good luck!

      Brooke

      • August 17, 2013 at 7:26 pm
      brooke
      Participant

      Hello!

      I can only imagine your anxiety! When my husband found out he had melanoma, the results were back within a week. He recently went back to the dermatologist to have two other moles removed that appeared normal, but we were being safe. It took almost two weeks for the results to come back as normal.

      I know all labs are different, but hopefully your situation is similar!

      Good luck!

      Brooke

      • August 19, 2013 at 8:30 pm
      POW
      Participant

      It is often difficult to tell those two apart. You were smart to get it biopsied. I am delighted that you got the answer you did!

      • August 21, 2013 at 4:40 am
      JerryfromFauq
      Participant

      Whoopee !!!!!

      • August 21, 2013 at 4:40 am
      JerryfromFauq
      Participant

      Whoopee !!!!!

      • August 21, 2013 at 4:40 am
      JerryfromFauq
      Participant

      Whoopee !!!!!

      • August 16, 2013 at 10:39 pm
      michmart930
      Participant
      Hi Denise,
      Thanks for your response. Supposedly my GP and dermatologist have been calling the lab for an update and its still showing pending. I haven’t gotten any other updates from them. That’s why I’m getting a bad feeling. By 10 days I would assume they could tell me if its normal.
      • August 16, 2013 at 10:39 pm
      michmart930
      Participant
      Hi Denise,
      Thanks for your response. Supposedly my GP and dermatologist have been calling the lab for an update and its still showing pending. I haven’t gotten any other updates from them. That’s why I’m getting a bad feeling. By 10 days I would assume they could tell me if its normal.
      • August 17, 2013 at 12:19 am
      michmart930
      Participant
      Thank you for all the responses. Waiting is the hardest part. I don’t live in a small town though. I live about an hour outside of NYC in northern NJ. Wish you all well.
      • August 17, 2013 at 12:19 am
      michmart930
      Participant
      Thank you for all the responses. Waiting is the hardest part. I don’t live in a small town though. I live about an hour outside of NYC in northern NJ. Wish you all well.
      • August 19, 2013 at 6:05 pm
      michmart930
      Participant
      Hi everyone. Thank you for all of your feedback. I finally heard from the doc today and it is not melanoma. It’s a Seborrheic keratosis
      You and your families are all in my thoughts today and everyday.
      • August 19, 2013 at 6:05 pm
      michmart930
      Participant
      Hi everyone. Thank you for all of your feedback. I finally heard from the doc today and it is not melanoma. It’s a Seborrheic keratosis
      You and your families are all in my thoughts today and everyday.
      • August 19, 2013 at 6:05 pm
      michmart930
      Participant
      Hi everyone. Thank you for all of your feedback. I finally heard from the doc today and it is not melanoma. It’s a Seborrheic keratosis
      You and your families are all in my thoughts today and everyday.
      • August 19, 2013 at 8:30 pm
      POW
      Participant

      It is often difficult to tell those two apart. You were smart to get it biopsied. I am delighted that you got the answer you did!

      • August 19, 2013 at 8:30 pm
      POW
      Participant

      It is often difficult to tell those two apart. You were smart to get it biopsied. I am delighted that you got the answer you did!

Viewing 17 reply threads

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