A pathologist is a doctor who diagnoses diseases by looking at tissue from the body. Pieces of your tumor tissue that are removed during surgery or biopsy will be sent for testing. The pathologist writes up a report of their findings, which is called the pathology report. This report has information about your tumor that is used to plan your treatment. You should ask for a copy of this report and keep it in your personal files.
Your healthcare provider will often get the pathology report within 7 to 10 days after your surgery or biopsy. These reports are written in medical language. The pathology report is broken down into sections, often with:
Keep in mind that some tests may be done at a different laboratory and it may take longer to get those results. Some parts of the report are used to figure out the stage of the cancer and most of the report will play a role in deciding what treatment you may need. By understanding the basics of the report, you will be better able to talk about your treatment options with your healthcare team.
Sometimes patients or their providers may want to get a second opinion about the pathology results, especially if it is a rare cancer or an uncertain diagnosis. If you want a second opinion, talk with your provider. They will need to get the tissue samples from the pathology lab that looked at the sample or from the hospital where the biopsy or surgery was done.
Many places will give you a second opinion. Centers designated by the National Cancer Institute or academic institutions (teaching hospitals) are often the most experienced with pathology reports and treatments. You can call the facility to see if they are able to give you a second opinion, the cost, and how the tissue should be shipped.
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