Eight Weeks And I'm Still waiting for Biopsy results

Do you ever find yourself feeling as though you are stuck in an interminable waiting game? Unfortunately, that is precisely how I am feeling at present. It has now been eight weeks since an ill-defined abnormal lesion was detected in my stomach during a gastroscopy, yet I have still not received my biopsy results.

Eight weeks today and I’m still waiting for my results.

That’s Eight weeks of anxiety, and torment of what the results will come back as. Eight weeks of not knowing whether the results will come back benign, or if it’s something more sinister. The uncertainty of not knowing whether my life might be irrevocably altered with a solitary phone call has been overwhelming.

It’s heart-breaking and frustrating that I’ve had to wait this long. In fact I’m still waiting and I don’t know how much longer I have to wait. The anxiety it’s brought upon me, the sleepless nights, the negative outlook - its’ been a difficult eight weeks and a massive toll on my mental health.

I keep telling myself, ‘any day now…’

If the results do come back as benign, I’ve still had to go through the worry for those eight weeks. However, if my results do you come back and it is something much sinister, then it’s simply unacceptable, harmful and heart-breaking that I had to wait that long.

There’s absolutely nothing I can do about it.

I appreciate it’s not my consultants fault, we’re waiting on the results from the another hospital. But there has been zero support whilst waiting for those results. It’s just been like a black hole and deafening silence where I am expected to wait and just get on with my live and function normally; to ignore the fact that I’m waiting for results that could change my life forever.  

I don’t know how we are meant to manage and navigate this waiting time; I’ve been up-and-down, angry, upset - it’s simply not okay that we are left away 8+ weeks for biopsy results with no support or update during this time.

I am fully aware this is not an isolated occurrence; rather, it is a widespread problem within the NHS. The duration of the wait itself is only one part of the issue - the lack of support and communication throughout this arduous period is equally frustrating.

I’m not the only one having to go through this I’m just a tiny percentage of what many people happen to go through – we are being failed.

The issue of waiting times also raises questions about patient empowerment and involvement. As we often feel helpless and at the mercy of the healthcare system during these waiting periods. We are left in the dark, unsure of what is happening and when. This lack of transparency and involvement can leave us feeling helpless, disempowered and detached from our own healthcare journey. There is a need for better communication and involvement for us in understanding our own health status and the steps being taken for diagnosis and treatment. Moreover, the issue of waiting times for biopsy results brings to light the inequalities within the healthcare system. Those who are in more privileged positions may have the means to seek private healthcare or go abroad for more timely and efficient medical care. However, for those of us who rely solely on the NHS are often subject to longer waiting times.

How is that fair, and where has the duty of care gone?!