Do doctors give biopsy results over the phone?

Physicians are taught to deliver the results of patients’ biopsies in person, but a survey of patients at three US melanoma clinics indicates that many patients prefer an expedient phone call to the longer wait associated with a face-to-face follow-up visit.

Will doctors give cancer diagnosis over the phone?

Some studies suggest that 16% to 40% of patients with cancer have received their diagnosis over the phone and/or through the mail.

Can a doctor tell you results over the phone?

Giving information over the phone is reasonable to do if done properly. Clearly, a doctor or a doctor’s office shouldn’t call and leave a message on the answering machine. But if a patient calls for the results, someone in the office should be available to give the test results.

Will GP give biopsy results?

Your GP, hospital consultant or practice nurse will give you your results and explain what they mean. A biopsy is sometimes inconclusive, which means it hasn’t produced a definitive result. In this case, the biopsy may need to be repeated, or other tests may be required to confirm your diagnosis.

Will doctors tell you if they suspect cancer?

Doctors need the information about grade and stage to plan your treatment. It may take a few days before your doctor has the results of all the tests. They will then be able to tell you whether you have cancer, and talk with you about your treatment options.

Do doctors delay giving bad news?

Half of physicians (51%) and more than two in five nurses and advance practice nurses (44%) say they have delayed giving bad news to patients, according to a Medscape Medical News poll.

Do positive biopsies take longer?

Once the sample is collected, it is sent to the lab for analysis to determine if the cells are cancerous. Generally, it takes about two working days to receive results, but it sometimes takes longer if additional testing is needed.

Can surgical biopsy be wrong?

Although tests aren’t 100% accurate all the time, receiving a wrong answer from a cancer biopsy – called a false positive or a false negative – can be especially distressing. While data are limited, an incorrect biopsy result generally is thought to occur in 1 to 2% of surgical pathology cases.

Can a biopsy be done over the phone?

The radiographer (I think that’s who carried out the biopsy) said that there is a chance that results would be given over the phone but not normally. I just hate this wait. I go though times of forgetting all about it then I get so freaked out thinking that I have cancer. I just wish I knew. Good luck to you both. I hope you get the all clear.

When to call the doctor after a biopsy?

I call after 4 or 5 working days. I tell whoever answers the phone that I plan to call once a day until the results are in. They would not give me the results over the phone @ my OBGYN, but she did say that anything that comes across the doctors desk that needs to be immediately addressed is :-)…..

What to do if you don’t get your biopsy results?

Make a gp apt and make them phone the lab whilst you’re there. Phone the consultant’s secretary and explain that you haven’t had any follow up, don’t know your results, your gp is not being helpful etc and see if they can fit you in as an emergency apt with your consultant, or give your gp a kick up the arse on behalf of you.

Can a doctor give you test results over the phone?

When test results are positive, and treatment needs to be started right away, it is wiser to inform the patient over the phone and arrange further meetings. When a doctor wants to share bad news with the patients, he needs to take care of a positive attitude and some general guidelines.