Waiting for biosy results over a weekend is the pitts! I found this information about why biopsies can take so long:
What happens to the skin sample after the biopsy is removed?
After the biopsy, the skin sample is fixed in special solution, and thin sections of the tissue are cut and placed on microscope slides. The slides are stained for examination by a doctor (usually a dermatologist or pathologist). Sometimes specialized stains are used to examine for antibodies, immune proteins, and other markers of certain diseases. Initial routine biopsy results can be obtained in 48 hours or less, while specialized staining techniques can require a much longer time until final results are available.
I had the mole on my back removed this past Monday at the University of Chicago. The doctor told me that a dermopatholgist would look at it the next day, but that it could take up to two weeks for me to receive the pathology report.
Separately, I've just been diagnosed with liver disease, of unkown cause. I'm flying to Chicaog again on Monday, to see a liver specialist at the University of Chicago, on Tuesday morning.
I'm hoping that it's not the worst case scenario, i.e., melanoma with mets to the liver.
Although I live in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which is home to the University of Michigan Health System, I was able to get appointments for both the biopsy and the liver consultation more quickly at the University of Chicago. I'll use the U of M appointments for second opinions.
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