Is 5 months too long to wait for breast cancer surgery?

angelcakes

Is 5 months too long to wait to have surgery when you find a cancerous lump in your breast?   I found my tumor in August of 2007 and i immediately made a doctor's appointment soon after.  It took them 3 months to get me in for an ultrasound, then after waiting 3 for the ultrasound, i then had to wait another month for the mammogram and biopsy, then after having had to wait another month for the mammo and biopsy, i then had to wait another whole month to have surgery.  I am terribly afraid that waiting for that long period of time to be diagnosed with breast cancer and to have surgery that the cancer cells have broken away from the tumor and have spreaded to my major organs and is going to come back again to put me in stage 4.  I had stage 2a breast cancer and have been in remission for almost 2 years now, but i know that there is a strong possibility that this disease can come back at anytime and put me in stage 4

123Donna

Angelcakes,

It sure seems like 5 months is al long time to wait for surgery.  I had my ultrasound the day after they called me back from the abnormal mammogram and surgery within about 3 1/2 weeks.  The fact that you have no evidence of disease after 2 years is a good sign.  Did you have chemo and/or radiation following surgery?  Were there nodes involved?  Are you on any type of post surgery treatment?  Are you ER, PR, HER negative?  How about followup exams with your oncologist - do you get routine testing?  All these factors will help them monitor you and watch for any changes that may occur.  Wishing you the best.

lexislove

Did I read this right?....You found your lump in august 2007?! Or is this just a typo.

I see you posted your question on the triple neg board, if you are triple neg.....5 months is waaay to long. But overall, I think it's too long period. what about starting chemo first at least?

What are the reasons why the long wait. Please explaine.Thanks!

angelcakes

Hi Donna and LexiLove:

Yes i did have chemo and radiation after surgery.  I took Adrianmycin, Cytoxen and 12 weekly dosages of Taxaol. There were no nodes involved and yes i am Triple Negaitve and BRCA 1 &2 negative.  At first my doctors told me that i was at stage 1 and that the cancer tumor was 1.9  cm big, but because i had to wait another month for surgery after being diagnosed, the tumor had grown to be 3cm big and put me in stage 2a.  I know that it is only a matter of time before i am in stage 4. They claim that they were all booked up for appointments and could not get me in early enough.  I just don't see myself surviving this disease at all. The only testing that my doctors will give me each year is a mammogram.  I have asked to have a bone scan every year since they have said that the cancer tumor was very close to my bone, but both of my oncologist have said that they are not sending for me to have any other tests accept for mammograms each year. I have been thinking about asking for new oncologists.  I am only 28 years old and i don't want to die from cancer.  Should i ask for different oncologists?  I am worried that if the cancer comes back again in one of my major organs doctors won't know until it is too late because they are only giving me mammograms.  And a mammogram won't be able to tell if the cancer has come back in my liver, bones, lungs, or brain. They say that they cannot give me any other tests unless i am having pain in other areas of my body.  I am sorry to go on and on and on but i am extremely upset.  I feel like  these doctors don't care about my life and are going to let me die. 

lexislove

So is this a NEW breast cancer or recurrence?

You need to push...push...push. Demand. I hope some more woman can help you out. Im not in the US so I'm not much help with your medical system.

Do not give up and just be ok with this!

cheranthia

As I'm reading your post, it sounds like you are still cancer free, but fearful of a recurrence because it took so long to get a diagnosis and treatment back in 2007. Is that right?

It is very unfortunate (and shameful for our medical system) that you moved from Stage 1 to Stage 2 while awaiting treatment, but that really does not mean that you will get a recurrence. Many of us (such as myself) are not diagnosed in the first place until Stage 2 and we are doing quite well after treatment. You have had your surgery, chemo and radiation- all of which are VERY effective on triple negative BC. You are still cancer free two years later, and that is excellent! I am not sure why you are so certain that it is only a matter of time before you are Stage 4. 

I know you must be frustrated because of how your treatment was handled before. If I were you, I would also be very mistrustful of the whole process. Still, doing only mammograms and scanning only if you have symptoms is standard follow-up care for triple negative. If you were to have a local recurrence, regular mammograms and physical exams would probably catch it at a very early and treatable stage. If you were to have a metastasis, scans might detect it, but they would not prevent it. That's why doctors do not recommend other types of tests unless you have a reason to suspect you have a metastatic recurrence, which by definition would already be Stage 4. I asked my oncologist why he is not concerned about discovering Stage 4 disease early. He explained that at that point, it's a whole new ball game and finding it sooner rather than later doesn't appear to increase survival in the long run. At least that's the position of most (not all) oncologists. The good news is you DID manage to get treated while yours was still early stage -even if it was Stage 2 and not 1.

Your situation and mine are really very similar (see my stats). By doing surgery, chemo, and radiation, we have done what we can in the way of standard medicine to prevent a recurrence of any kind. We are over two years cancer free, so we are nearing the "magic" 3 year point at which our odds for recurrence drop dramatically. My oncologist says my prognosis is excellent, so my perspective at this point is cautiously optimistic. Still, if you are not comfortable with the approach your oncologist is taking, you should probably find one you trust and who is willing to explain his/her follow-up plan to your satisfaction.  

angelcakes

Yes Cheranthia i am in remission right now.  In January it will be 2 years since i have been in remission.  Although it has been almost 2 years now since i have been in remission, i am still very worried and afraid because i have been in this forum and a few other breast cancer forums and have read stories of women with my exact same cancer and in the same stage as i am relapse and be put into stage 4 before they even make it to the 5 year mark.  And it seems like it is just so many of them. I feel like if it has happen to them then it is bound to happen me sooner or later.  I just can't help to be so depressed over this. 

cheranthia

Hi Angelcakes,

I'm sorry you are feeling depressed. We have no guarantees that we will not have a recurrence, but every day we are cancer free, we are that much more likely to stay that way. Remember that many long-term 3N survivors are probably no longer posting on these boards because cancer is no longer the center of their lives. That can make it seem like more of us have recurrences than actually do. Not so long ago, I was not at all sure I would survive - but I did. Now I feel like whatever time I have left - however long that may be- is a gift, so I try not to spend it worrying about cancer. It has already taken up enough of my time and I don't want to give it any more. I hope you can find a way to put your mind at ease and enjoy the precious reprieve you have been given. I congratulate you for remaining cancer-free this long and wish you peace of mind and continued good health.

123Donna

Angelcakes,

 I know you're fearful for a recurrence, but you should be celebrating 2 years with NED!  Congratulations.  To help relieve some of your anxieties, I'd maybe visit another oncologist associated with a teaching university.  A second oponion will sure help with some of your fears and maybe a new oncologist will suggest some follow-up testing.  Good luck,

 Donna

123Donna

Angelcakes,

 I know you're fearful for a recurrence, but you should be celebrating 2 years with NED!  Congratulations.  To help relieve some of your anxieties, I'd maybe visit another oncologist associated with a teaching university.  A second oponion will sure help with some of your fears and maybe a new oncologist will suggest some follow-up testing.  Good luck,

 Donna