Wondering about time frame

rachelvk

I see a lot of variation here on how quickly it took to get surgery, and I'm wondering whether I should be concerned about the speed of my treatment.

I first found a lump on July 11 or 12 - it came absolutely out of nowhere, as I had a gyn exam the week before and know that I had checked before my appt and the doctor did an exam. When I found it, I didn't even have to look - it almost jumped out it was so obvious. I saw my gyn again the following week and he sent me that day for a mammography and ultrasound, and after speaking with the radiologist told me to contact a BS that he recommended. It took 2 weeks to get the appointment, but my gyn was okay with the wait. When I saw the BS, she decided to do an ultrasound guided biopsy two days later. The following Tuesday (Aug. 16), she called to say I had cancer, and had me in her office two days later.

At this point the diagnosis is IDC, probably stage 1 but possibly stage 2, triple negative. Her recommendation was for me to have the BRCA test, and we would make a decision after the results come back, because being negative would probably allow for a lumpectomy, but a positive result would suggest I go ahead with a mastectomy. I had the test last week and the earliest I can expect to hear is the end of this week, and the BS' office said the earliest I could probably anticipate surgery would be the end of September.

That means it's getting close to 2 months after finding the lump, and surgery wouldn't be until nearly 3 months after. Am I worrying too much? I plan to get information together this week to get a second opinion. I'm just wondering if there are any other types of tests they can do to monitor - for example, I think I may be feeling my lymph nodes, which wasn't the case a few weeks ago. I'd apprecaite any feedback. Thanks much.

SAOIsenberg

Hey Rachel - just saw this and saw no one'd responded yet. That's not a long time, in my experience - in rare cases breast cancer is a medical emergency, but otherwise, even when it's invasive, it's pretty slow-going. I know you want answers STAT - this is THE MOST AGONIZING TIME - when you don't have all the information and you don't have a plan. But if you take time to get the facts and then to make a treatment plan that seems right to you and your docs, you'll be so relieved in the end. It just takes time and it feels like FOREVER.

As for the nodes - if you do think you feel something, call them and bring it up. Your nodes could be swollen for any number of reasons besides them having cancerous cells in them, and it's unlikely they'd get bigger all of a sudden like that from cancer. Chances are that you'll have a sentinel node biopsy when you have surgery - have you heard of this? They'll inject you w/a radioactive tracer and then biopsy the first nodes they detect the tracers in . . . if no cancerous cells there (they'll do what's called a frozen section while you're on the table), then they'll stop and stitch you up. If they find cancerous cells in those, then they'll go to the next layer, and so on. How many they take depends on you and your individual body - when I had mine in '01 I had 3 (I think), they were clear, so that was it.

It's a great idea to wait for the BRCA testing - then you'll know better what your options are in terms of lumpectomy or mastectomy.

Good luck, and hang in there!

Sarah 

rachelvk

Thanks, Sarah. It is a scary time. Though at least it's giving me time to get ahead at work and get some other things together. Met the PS today to go over some of the alternatives, pending my test results.

I'll keep an eye on the nodes. I don't want to turn into a hypochondriac, but once you start paying attention to something, it gets harder to ignore some things that otherwise you wouldn't even notice.

Rachel 

survivor11

I found my lump on 4/21 and had my BMX 5/10. I already knew what I wanted done so I didn't need to wait for any tests.

Three months does seem a little long, I think. I would definantly go for a second opp.(thats always a good idea anyway).

I agree that the lymph nodes, if really swollen, can be from a whole host of things. Just make sure that you inform your docs.

So sorry your going through this, we all know what it's like. Hang in there and good luck with whatever treatment you undergo.

dsengplute

Hi Rachel:

I found my lump in January 2010, was told by a radiologist that I had a "dialated duct" to come back in six months.  Long story short I was diagnosed on February 1st, 2011 and had my double mastectomy on 2/16/11 (although the drs. weren't in a hurry, I was).  I've been told it's likely that I had cancer for two to three years before it was found and dealt with.  I do have to admit I feel sooooo much better now, I just didn't know how bad I was feeling before I guess.  Take deep breaths and make sure you have a team of doctors that you have confidence in.  

In Healing LIght, 

Donna 

rachelvk

Thanks Donna. I've had reassurances from several doctors now and do feel better. I've read that in some cases, a slow-growing tumor can be around for 10 years before it's found. That's such a weird thought. I tried thinking back what I was doing 10 years ago... Mine probably is much faster than that.

I hope your recovery has gone well. I'm heading down the BMX route myself. 

CoolBreeze

I don't understand the thinking.  You can have a lumpectomy, and then if it comes back brca, you can later have a mastectomy.  The two are not mutually exclusive.

That said, my cancer was dx'd in August and my surgery was October.  I am hardly alone on a two month wait.  Obviously, that didn't turn out too well for me, but I was also node negative so who knows?? 

minxie

As far as what the above poster is suggesting - lumpectomy and then if results are bad, do a mastectomy down the road - well I've been there done that and do not recommend it. As a matter of fact I am pretty darn pissed that I was not given all the facts, information, and potential ramifications of my particular situation first time around - because if I did, I sure as heck would have opted for the BMX right off the bat. Rather than dealing with lumpectomy, SNB, AND, chemo, thinking I was all done, and then having to face MORE surgery and a far more difficult recovery after my body was totally whipped.

TN can unfortunately be a fast grower so I'm glad to hear that you'll be getting your surgery soon - best wishes to you and PM me if I can help!