Delayed Mamoprint Results

attackturtle

This is my first time posting and unfortunately it is due to my need to vent. I was diagnosed with breast cancer, thought at the time to be grade 1, on July 10, 2015. I was told from the get go that I would need a mastectomy due to the location of the tumor. My surgery was initially scheduled for August 19, 2015, but due to my coming down with a viral infection, it was moved to August 25, 2015. The pathology results came back and I was now considered stage 2 due to the size of the tumor. I have extensive lymphatic invasion, but the presence in my lymph nodes was limited to one and it was minimal. I received my pathology report within three days of my surgery.

I met with my breast surgeon about three weeks post surgery and then within the hour I had an appointment with the oncologist, whom she referred me to. My breast surgeon had advised me that she wanted my samples sent to Mamoprint, but did disclose that the oncology would probably prefer oncotype. Sure enough the oncologist told me that he would prefer the oncotype test. He ended up leaving my husband and I in the exam room while he went to call the surgeon and when he returned, it was clear that they still disagreed as to which test to run. We left, feeling that he was going to request one and she was going to request the other, but also knew that our insurance would probably only agree to pay for one test. This was on a Friday. By Monday, the oncologist calls me and advises me that he was going ahead with the mamoprint since it had already been ordered and the testing had "already begun". Based on this representation, I felt that I could possibly get the results sooner as opposed to later. This was two weeks ago.

This morning the oncologist called me to tell me that I had to postpone my follow up appointment because my results were not going to be back for another two weeks. Apparently as a result of his and my surgeon's debate as to which test to request, the pathology department cancelled the mamoprint request.

I'm a self employed lawyer. I have been able to delay the majority of my cases until early November; however I have been advised not to take on any new cases until I have a clearer picture of what my treatment is going to consist of. By the time my results actually come in, it will be nearly three months since my actual diagnosis before I actually know if I need to do chemotherapy. My husband is a lawyer, who represents doctors and as a result, he tends to be more understanding of the fact that mistakes happen. I simply don't want to hear it at this point.

Its not just the fact that I have to wait, its the fact that the reason this delay occurred is due to two doctors not agreeing in the first place.

Moderators

First attack turtle, we are glad that you are here to vent. You've picked a perfect place to do that!

We are really sorry to hear about what you are experiencing with your doctors. If your treatment team does not agree with one another, perhaps you need to set up a conversation with them in this interim time period, and before moving forward with your treatment. A lousy situation, but hopefully one you can resolve with treatment team.