A rant, because this is all I can do.
January 3, 2013Right before Christmas, I got to have a needle core biopsy on my right breast. A few days before that, I found an impressive lump, which I quickly had checked out by my GP, who hurried me along to get a mammogram and an ultrasound. The radiologist informed me that I had a few cysts (six!) in my right breast as well as a tumor (a large one!) which he preceded with the words "definitely benign," so as to keep me from falling off the table. It worked! "Definitely benign" has a lovely, comforting ring to it. Still, though, he said we'd want to do the biopsy right away, which they did. And after it was all done, and I was lying there icing my poor, drilled boob, the warm, comforting, grandfatherly doctor who performed the biopsy assured me--PROMISED me--that the results would be in two days later, "at the latest."
HA HA HAAAAAAAAAAaaaaa. Hurk.
I'm not going to bury the lede, here: I still don't have the results. And although I have been assured that I am most definitely going to be all fine, I would like to know, please, thank you and goodbye. I would like to not think about this any longer. And yet I am forced to think about this, a lot longer. I am feeling a little crazy. I am ready to march down to the NYU labs and start knocking heads together. Only then they wouldn't be able to give me the results, what with all the brain injuries.
And you know, if they had TOLD me it would take a while, I would have resigned myself. If they hadn't said to me, "This is the last thing you want to worry about over the holidays," I would have expected to worry about it over the holidays. Worrying's what I do, after all, so I'd add this to the list. But since they were all concern and rush-rush with me from the start, I assumed we would continue on that course. It's fun to assume things.
Instead, when I called the radiologist's office two days later, I received an incredulous "What? Of course the results aren't in yet." Then I was told to call back in a few hours. Once again, I was met with incredulity. Two days! Do I think I'm the Queen? The Queen of New York? "Call back Monday, that's when they'll be in," I was told. I couldn't believe I would now have to wait an entire weekend. Ha, ha! I was so cute, back then.
On Monday, the same woman who assured me the results would be in on Monday was amazed I would think they'd be in on Monday. "It's Christmas Eve! The lab's not even open." Call back Wednesday, she said. Because duh.
I bet you can guess what she said on Wednesday. And on that day, my friends, on that day I said to myself, "I will not be calling this office ever again. I now hate this person, and I don't want to hate someone, so I will turn my attention solely to my GP." Oh, because also, after the fifth phone call, the woman at the radiologist's finally told me that no one but my GP could give me the results anyway, so really there was no reason to call her. This is the same woman who was standing right there as Dr. Grandpa lovingly squeezed my shoulder and assured me I'd wait but 48 hours, at the most. She didn't roll her eyes even a little when he said that, and I LOOKED.
My GP continues to take my calls and emails, but she's not getting answers either, and today I couldn't stand it anymore so I called the radiologist's, again. My hate had receded, and I thought, maybe in 2013 the lady who answers the phone will be nicer. Maybe she'll tell me whom to harass at the lab. Who knows? Stranger things have happened.
"Hi, it's Alice again. Alice Bradley," I said, chuckling (why chuckling?). "Still waiting on those biopsy results, as you know." Chuckle, chuckle. Oh, me.
"They're not in yet," she said.
"Wow," I said. "This is getting nuts." Mildly, though. She could hold my results hostage, after all, so I'm trying to stay on her good side. I mean, if she has one.
And, then, my friends, she hung up. On me? Or just because she was done? I'll never know.
And, look, I sympathize. A little. She's not in control of when the lab results come in. But she should sympathize too, no? A little.
Reader Comments (61)
Oh my science, you are being such a patient patient. All this and you have no assault charges or restraining orders pending? But seriously, I don't understand how a health care professional could be so callous toward someone who has been anxiously awaiting results. It's just awful. I do hope you get clarity soon.
Sending huge, huge hugs.
That is ridiculous. That is true, old-school, not paying attention, toxic workplace bullshit, and I'm sorry you're on the receiving end of it.
I can't believe this. I can't believe this. What I want you to do is give me the address. I'm not Colombian for nothing.
xo
If I lived any closer, I would offer to come pick you up so we could storm the lab and/or the GP office. (And then we'd go out for burritos, because I think that might be fun.) Two days have become two weeks. This is not cool. I'm sending hugs and all of that, but I'm also sending a very menacing stink eye toward the woman who hung up on you.
What time space continuum are they leaking from? 48 hours is just that... 48 hours. They can't play with you like that!
Man! I have been worrying about your breast, having not seen that you got results on your twitter feed, and it is not even my breast!
I can't believe you still don't have results. RAWR!
This is ridiculous and maddening! Why isn't your GP getting back to you? Do you have to go into the office and make a stink? I remember when I was first diagnosed with cervical cancer and all the tests and the waiting for results. They always told me a longer time period and then called much sooner. That's the way it should be done because the waiting is the hardest part, the not knowing, the way your mind makes up crazy shit (usually not positive stuff). I sincerely hope they call you TODAY and end this madness. Should the internet start calling? I mean, seriously!
Thinking of you. Hoping you have your answers soon.
Infuriating. May you find grace and peace in the waiting. So so absurd!
I cannot believe you have been waiting for results for this long. I'm so sorry. And in addition to being sorry, I'm so angry on your behalf. I hope you are called with your results, and an apology, soon.
Oh my god. So frustrating! How can this woman act like you don't have the right to be freaked out and wanting answers?? If she can't be endlessly compassionate, she's in the wrong damn job. I'm so sorry you're dealing with this, and hoping for a phone call with great news on the other end, immediately!
That is crazy-infuriating. And also insane. And you'd think people who work with people waiting for biopsy results would be more understanding and less spawn of Satan.
let me know if you want me to call! Anyone! At any time!
Oh dear. That happened to me once, too. It was many, many moons ago... Had the core needle biopsy, was assured I would get the results in two days and then nothing. Nothing, nothing, nothing and finally my mom (who literally could not stand it) (I was in college and still let my mom do things for me) called the lab 8 times until they called her back to tell her it was benign.
The moral of this story is, it will be benign, but not before taking years off the end of your life with all the worry, those bastards. I'm so sorry and hope the results are in SOON, as in NOW, or better yet 5 minutes ago.
I really know how this feels...I waited nearly a month for pathology reports on a brain tumor. When they finally came in, the neurosurgeon called me himself, very excited, just to tell me I had a giant zit in my brain.
It's funny now, but the waiting...massive pile of Nope.
Oh, I have so been there. I once reamed a woman out for not being compassionate to patients (like my husband at the time). I understand with their job they see many difficult cases a day, but they remember patients are people, not numbers.
Here's to hoping you get an answer soon...with no restraining orders in the process. And when it is all said and done, and you have the results, file a complaint.
Dear Alice,
I was in exactly the same position as you (except it was my left boob) about a year ago. Who knew there was all of that action going on in there? Cyst party in Karen' left boob!! BYO?? What does one bring to a boob party?
Maybe I'm just being Canadian here, and I'm used to waiting for healthcare, but I think the longer you wait, the more likely it is that your results are negative. Our healthcare system is based on triage, so if you have a brain tumour you go straight to the front of the queue. Whereas processing benign results goes to the bottom of the basket. I'm sure they did an initial review of your results and decided there was no emergency.
That said, waiting sucks. Hang in there!
K
I had a needle-core biopsy in December also (tis the season?) and had the results the same day. Go knock some heads together! Park yourself in the office! This is unacceptable and the fact that the woman hung up on you makes it even worse.
Stop calling the lab and start calling Dr. Grandpa (or his secretary) instead. He told you it'd be 2 days, presumably he himself thought it'd be 2 days; he needs to know that it hasn't been two days, and he's also very probably the only person who could possibly speed it up.
I cannot tell you with words how much compassion I have for you regarding this mess. If you were in the room with me I would hope that an enormous hug could alleviate, if only for a few seconds, some of the aggravation and increasing anxiety that these situations create.
Give me black or white – if it's something difficult, I'll find my way through it. The gray area is the tough place, where your mind finds all of your secret hiding places in which you store the ugly stuff and brings it to the forefront with great fanfare. I've been down my version of your road too many times, and have felt that there are those in the medical field who think they're doing right by you when they give a timeframe that is unrealistic. Our saner selves are usually willing to tough out the wait, no matter how long it is. But it better not be one second beyond that, because that's when the crazy comes to town.
There's absolutely no excuse for what you've been put through. One thing did jump into my head, but please know that I'm not offering this in anyone's defense. My daughter-in-law is an attending physician at Beth Israel. After superstorm Sandy hit, that was the only hospital open below 40th Street, so I heard about the challenges and bits of chaos that the situation presented. After NYU was up and running again, I wonder how much backlog was in their system (and their labs). I'm wondering if everything might be taking longer than it would otherwise, as they continue to plow through things. If that is the case, then yes, you should have been given an adjusted timeframe, and not what might otherwise have been expected.
I'd encourage you to mention to your primary care physician that you were treated rudely and with a lack of sensitivity. It's something I have a hard time doing, but it's always right when we stand up for ourselves and convey it when we know that a situation should/could have been handled with more understanding.
I'm with raf - Call the Doc. At the very least he should know that the lab has been so incompetent, especially before he makes promises to another woman.
As a little lady who has had her fair share of needle biopsies and cyst aspirations in the tata region, I have surmised that it's the bad news that comes quickly. If a week or two goes by with no word of the results, you're golden. (Of course, this is not scientifically proven, but you know. Kind of.)
Still. WHHHYYY WITH THE WAITING. And hanging up on you? Not cool. A tad hilarious, but not cool.
This is horrible - but I agree with Lola G - I know the storm did a lot of damage to NYU's research labs, and I bet their pathology labs share space (see here for more details: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/21/opinion/labs-washed-away.html). Keep fighting and they will get to you! Sending hopeful thoughts.
Reading about this here and on Twitter is incredibly infuriating. I seriously can't believe that woman hung up on you (after previously being rude). Seriously, she needs to chill and be a bit more considerate toward yourself and the other patients.
As someone who just had a needle biopsy a little under two weeks ago (and got results yesterday, the only delays being caused by the weekend followed by New Year's) this just boggles my mind. Good or bad, you really shouldn't be kept in the dark for this long; I can't think of a single valid excuse as to why this whole thing is taking so long.
You seem to be handling it all very well, but I do have to wonder if you're going to have to shank a bitch for your results.
Hang in there!
WHAT. THE. *HELL.*