Mar 27, 2021 05:56PM - edited Mar 27, 2021 05:59PM by beesie.is.out-of-office

While there are overriding principles guiding healthcare across the country, healthcare in Canada is run by the provinces, and there are differences from one province to another. Which province are you in?

As for not having heard yet from the doctor, if you only had the x-ray on Thursday, the report from the radiologist probably wasn't signed off until Friday, and you don't know when it was released to your doctor, or if your doctor has even had a chance to see the report yet. This would be true anywhere in the U.S. too.

Whether in Canada or the States, how long it takes to get results depends on the imaging/testing facility. How and when the doctor notifies you depends on the doctor. Just as there is no consistency with this in the U.S., there is no consistency in Canada. It has nothing to do with the healthcare system. It's all up to the doctors involved. It would be nice if there were rules and consistency on all this so that we'd know what to expect, but doctors are individuals who each operate in their own way.

The same would be true on the bone scan. Some doctors are very responsive and proactive and recommend and order lots of tests. Other doctors are more hesitant to order tests. Again, this is no different than what you would find with doctors in the U.S. (and there you also have to deal with the possibility of your insurance denying the doctor's requisition).

The advice I've given many times on this site, whether to someone in Canada or the U.S., is to always ask your doctor and the testing facility what their process and timelines are for notifying patients about results.

Does either your doctor's office or the imaging facility have a patient portal?

Hope that your x-ray shows something like arthritis or bursitis... not that I want you to have those conditions, but it would be good to have a clear explanation for the pain, something that isn't mets!

Edited to add: I see that as I was typing,you just changed the location under your user name from Texas to B.C.. There are lots of BC people on this site who can help you navigate the BC system.

Mar 27, 2021 07:40PM sadiesservant wrote:

Hi Shelby,

I live in BC and have done my entire life. You have no reason to worry that you have not heard back yet, in fact, it may be the opposite (no news may be good news). However, I agree with Beesie that a call to your doctor would be a good idea, late Monday or Tuesday, as you are worried. It often takes a few days for the results to get to your GP unless something is clearly ominous.

In terms of a bone scan, that will depend a great deal on your symptoms, the results of the x-ray and your doc. Our system is great and I have always had excellent care. The one thing you do need to be prepared for, if there are indications that further investigation is required, you may not get the second scan instantly. It’s been my experience that scans ordered by a general practitioner, in the absence of a compelling diagnosis, usually take longer to be scheduled. If my MO orders it I get pushed to the front of the line. Hope this helps put your mind at ease

Apr 1, 2021 02:03PM elderberry wrote:

txstardust: hi and a belated welcome to the True North. One thing I didn't have to worry about when I was diagnosed was "OMG - how can I afford this?!" Our system is pretty good, although there are flaws. Waiting lists can be long. I attribute that to the fact that everyone is entitled to the same care not just rich people or those with good insurance who can move to the front of the line. I could be wrong. Urgent care is speedy but people might have to hobble around in pain for months for a knee replacement. That is the downside to "free" treatment.

A regular x-ray result usually comes back pretty fast, PET/CT etc results can seem like an eternity when you are spiralling around in scanxiety. New West is a good place to be. Royal Columbia is an excellent hospital. I started off at BCCA but really disliked my MO right at the start and tranferred to Lions Gate Hospital where I have the most fabulous MO I could ever hope to have. The infusion centre isn't as swanky as BCCA but the care is excellent. I live in Burnaby, about nine blocks from the Cassiar Connector to the Iron Workers' bridge.

You may get scheduled for CT if there are reasons for concern. It might turn out to be arthritis or something less scary than mets. Let us know!!

Jun 26, 2021 12:07AM txstardust wrote:

Thanks all, my x-ray turned out to be normal, thank goodness.

Now I'm dealing with heart issues that appear to be related to prior chemo. Found out I have two leaky valves and something called abnormal global strain, which I'm reading up on. Can this end please?