I have been waiting seven weeks and two days for the results of either molecular or genetic tests on my thyroid biopsy. The doctor said it’s ok because if it’s cancer, it’s typically slow growing. I can’t understand how that’s supposed to make me feel better. I’m starting to unravel.

First, I had to wait from my ultrasound in mid-November to the end of January for my biopsy. Two days later I learned it was a follicular neoplasm. Previously, every person who had a follicular neoplasm had at least a partial thyroid lobectomy, and after biopsy, it was malignant 20% of the time. Now there is a molecular/genetic test that supposedly can help improve the odds of a person keeping their thyroid for a cancer that occurs one out of five times. But it’s very new. I haven’t been able to find much info about it. I’m not even sure if it’s molecular or genetic testing!

And then! Somehow my sample didn’t get sent! This wasn’t discovered until almost four weeks after the supposed sending after I called twice -and- the receptionist got shitty with me about it. (“We would know right away if there had been a problem with the sample.” But would you notice if it hadn’t even been sent? “Well maybe it’s three weeks in, three weeks out.” What does that even mean?) It takes three weeks for this test to determine results. Does it need to be cultured? Sequenced? I don’t know, like I said, brand new test equals something I can’t research! So now I have been waiting seven weeks and two days, after already waiting two and a half months for the initial biopsy. I’ll do the math for you, four and a half months of waiting.

But it’s ok, right? Usually it’s slow growing.