How long should you wait until getting a biopsy?

My son has three swollen glands (one in his neck and two in his groin).

I took him to the doctor few weeks ago because I noticed his neck looked swollen, although it wasn't painful and he wasn't sick. She found the other swollen nodes in his groin and gave him antibiotics.

We went back when he'd finished the antibiotics and since there was no change she gave a second round of antibiotics.

I went back again and she decided to refer him to the hospital. When she said she would make the referral she asked I have insurance, which I don't. She seemed very worried about that at the time and commented on how the wait would be much longer without insurance.

I got the appointment for the hospital and it’s in 10 months time. The doctor insisted it's OK, but I can't help remembering how concerned she seemed about the long wait and I'm really worried about it.

I keep thinking about my grandfather who waited so long for an x-ray that by the time they found out he had lung cancer they couldn't offer him any treatment.

If it is some form of lymph cancer could waiting 10 months be really serious?

Is there a maximum amount of time you should wait?

Or is it that these types of cancers are slow growing so waiting doesn't really matter?


Thank you for reading my questions.

[Tinabudde]

Hi Suwad, what about applying for medicaid or some sort of low cost health insurance?  I don't know what your son has but since they want to do a biopsy the sooner the better so you can know what is going on and relax, the waiting for tests is the worst!  If it is cancer more likely the sooner the biopsy to find it the better as treatment can start sooner.  It might not be cancer, it might be some reaction to something else, irritation, allergy.  But again it could be something like cancer.  Where are you from?  Maybe myself or some of the others on the site can find some help on getting him some low cost insurance so you can get in faster.