How long is too long to wait?

sundermom

I was officially diagnosed with IDC Stage I Grade 2 ER+/PrG+ a week ago from today.  I saw the surgeon last week and have opted for a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction.  I see the oncologist on Thursday as we are still awaiting HER2 results.  However, I don't see the plastic surgeon until the 29th!  That means the surgery won't be until December or possibly early January. I found this lump on October 23rd and from my perspective things seem to be moving so slowly.  How long did you wait from diagnosis to surgery? I just keep thinking about this stuff growing inside of me and it's making me crazy!  I want it out NOW!!!

Being 37, I'm pre-menopausal, so there has been some discussion of the need to control my hormones.  I've read about Tamoxifin, but also having your ovaries removed.  Any experience with either of these???

 Thanks!t

catbill

Hi again!

Try not to worry too much.  I felt like you did, and I had to wait for my breast cancer surgeon to take a week's vacation and 10 days to see the plastic surgeon.  These time frames didn't overlap either.  It would have been longer, but I asked the plastic surgeon to call me if they got a cancellation, and it just worked out that they did.  Maybe you could talk with your plastic surgeon about something like that.  All in all I waited 4 weeks between biopsy and surgery.

You are stage 1-very good, you are grade 2-not the most aggressive-good, you are ER/PR positive-good.  You sound like a better prognosis, so far, and that's great.   I can't comment on ovaries out because I had a hysterectomy many years ago for too much estrogen in my system. (Can you believe that???)  Did too much estrogen cause my breast cancer-I guess I'll never know.  I will be on Arimidex, not Tamoxifen.  I'm guessing they will speak with you about Tamoxifen, but don't be afraid to get a second opinion before deciding what to do about your ovaries.

citykitty

Well, I'm no expert, but one thing I've learned is that each situation is different.  I know the waiting is frustrating as all get-out -- I'm in that same phase right now, and if it makes you feel any better, I've been waiting for months!  It's excruciating!

I found my lump in July.  It was about 5-6 weeks before I had a surgical biopsy, and it took another 2 months after that for me to get second opinions, choose a surgeon, get in to see her, and have a re-excision and sentinel node biopsy.  I'm going for my post-op today to find out whether there was cancer in the nodes and what comes next -- presumably an appointment with an oncologist.

I have both DCIS and IDC, triple positive, clinically Stage I but awaiting final staging pending SNB results.

I know it can drive you batty thinking about the cancer growing inside you.  Somewhere I read or was told that it's probably been there for years, so try not to stress over another couple of months.  I read it is more important to get good care than to get immediate care.  That actually made me feel a little better, and I hope it does the same for you.