Post surgery pathology

Thanks both Applevic​ and Tri​ for your responses - the insight into other states' health systems is interesting (and provides a contrast to Tasmania.  Unfortunately, last week's state budget announced a $700 million reduction to health, so unfortunately the system is unlikely to improve) 😞

DearAnnaS​ I am sorry you’re having to wait so long. I hope awareness of your predicament and others in Tasmania leads to change. I had surgery as a private patient in Victoria 3 years ago and had a week to wait for pathology taken from the sentinel nodes. 

Hi Anna

I'm in Victoria, I had my surgery (lumpectomy and SNB) in the public system on 7th May and I had my follow up appointment on their post-op clinic day, where they shared results on the 18th May. The waiting like others have shared I found to be the hardest. Hope you get your results soon. All the best!

Hi Anna, I'm in Hobart, and  had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy, as a private patient,  on April 10th, 2026.  I received the results the week after my operation. I do hope there is a break through for you, and you do manage to receive them sooner. Rest assured, you have done everything possible within your control. 🤞 for good news in the very near future xx

Welcome to our select little Club, AnnaS​   Definitely not the one you thought you'd be joining, that is for sure.  xx. I hope you are recovering well from your surgery.

Wishing you all the best for your results xx

My surgery was over 8 years ago - and it took the best part of 4 weeks for the results to come back.  grrr. As Moomincorn​ says - the waiting really DOES suck. :(    With a bit of luck, you'll get them earlier xx

Try & keep yourself as busy, mentally & physically as you are able (relative to your recovery.)  I find this bloody disease mucks with your brain even more than your body!   If you feel a bit flat - give our help line a bell (Mon-Fri 9-5) on 1800 500 258! It is just nice to chat with someone who knows what everyone is going thru xx 

Make sure you take a trusted friend or relative with you to your meetings from now on for support & company & also consider recording them too, on your phone xx. It is almost impossible to remember everything & this way you can go back over it in the quiet of your home & take notes. xx

Charlotte Tottman has a brilliant set of Podcasts on her own experience with BC - she is a specialist breast cancer Counsellor who had a double mastectomy, choosing to stay flat - and she was quite surprised at her own reaction to the news, surgery & treatments, when she'd been counseling others for many years & thought she 'knew it'!   She has done 2 ‘podcast seasons' ... check out the 1st season, right from her diagnosis onwards and how she coped, then move on to the 2nd season. She is very easy to listen to & you'll probably recognise your own reactions in many of the podcasts. 
http://www.drcharlottetottman.com.au/my-podcast.html

Check out this thread too - there is a lot of info on the forum - even 'tick sheets' that you can fill in to take with you to your appointments on your mental & physical health .... This info has been gleaned from many of our members over the years ... we have lots of other 'none BC topics' too - gardens, fishing, humour, wise words - feel free to check them out too (in the thread below!)

I hope it helps you xx
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/23477/a-big-welcome-to-all-new-online-network-members#latest

take care & all the best

Hi AnnaS​ - the waiting is horrible and I imagine it's more so when you get told that it will take longer than it should due to a backlog.

I'm in NSW. I had lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy last year. My report was ready 10 days later, but I wasn't booked in to see my surgeon until 22 days after surgery.  We hadn't expected lymph node involvement but the report said I had 3 of 4 lymph nodes involved.

My surgeon wasn't happy with the level of detail in the report about the lymph node involvement. 15 days later an updated report was ready so the time from surgery to the second report was 37 days.  Then my surgeon and the multidisciplinary team was able to make recommendation for more surgery. 

I had a second surgery for axillary dissection to remove more lymph nodes. That report took 7 days but again I wasn't booked into see my surgeon until 17 days after surgery.  

I hope that your results arrive sooner than they've estimated.