Confused by second opinion

Thinkpink67

Hi Everyone,

I was officially diagnosed with IDC on March 17 and have been finding great information on this site and in the discussion groups since.

I met with a surgical oncologist on Monday and learned most of the components of my cancer are favorable, I am HER2 positive. A lumpectomy has been scheduled for April 21 where they will remove the lump, take several nodes for screening and insert the chemo port. Tomorrow I am having a breast MRI and genetic testing. They are doing the genetic testing because at 48 she said I am on the young side for this type of cancer. I really like the cancer center, the staff, and the surgeon.

I did not want to get a second opinion because I really like everything about the first place and of course, everything is so overwhelming as it is. I have a friend who is a survivor who gave the name of the surgeon she went to and highly recommended her and the entire team she dealt with. I met with the surgical oncologist this morning and was told almost the exact same information I was given at my appointment on Monday. I didn't have a good vibe about the surgeon or any of the staff I met. I don't doubt that they are all highly capable, just not that friendly. Before I left the only different information I was given is the surgeon said she would not wait 3 weeks for the surgery but recommended I have it next week. I asked her if she thought it was okay to wait the three weeks and she said if it were her she wouldn't.

The only reason I am having the surgery in 3 weeks is because that is the soonest the first surgeon could do it. She told me that I could safely wait up to 90 days, but that it would be better to have it done sooner. So I scheduled at that time what was the soonest available.

Now I'm worried that I have to wait! Does anyone have any similar experiences or advice?

I'm completely confused now!

Thanks!

solfeo

Hi Thinkpink67. Sorry you had to join us, but glad you found your way here. You will see a wide range of time between diagnosis and surgery around here. I personally waited 10 weeks, not because I wanted to, but everyone I needed to see was either on vacation or about to be (never get cancer in the middle of summer!). Sooner is generally better than later but 3 weeks isn't going to make much difference one way or the other. For what it's worth, my opinion is that it is more important to have the surgeon you like and trust the most.

LisaAlissa

ditto to what solfeo said. Go with team that you're comfortable with. The time frame is not that different.

HTH,

LisaAlissa

Thinkpink67

thanks for the advice. That's what I thought. I am defiantly going to wait and stick with the surgeon I prefer

ElaineTherese

Hmm.... I wonder whether second opinion surgeon was concerned about your case because you are HER2+. Cancer that shows an over expression of the HER2 protein replicates quickly, and is often Grade 3. Perhaps, surgeon #2 was worried about your tumor growing in the meantime?

As someone whose cancer was also HER2+, I don't think that waiting three weeks for treatment is a big deal. I waited 3 -- 4 weeks to begin chemo after being diagnosed. (I had my chemo before surgery because my tumor was quite large.) I don't think my cancer got any worse in the meantime, and the chemo wiped out all of the active cancer in my breast and compromised lymph node. Best wishes!

kcat2013

Go with the surgeon you liked because feeling comfortable with your doctors is a big thing! My surgery was 3 weeks after diagnosis also.

Cowgirl13

Go with the team you like, especially the surgeon. As far as the onc, you will be seeing the onc for almost a year if you will be having herceptin. I absolutely loved my team and it mad all the difference in the world.

Good luck.

Keep us posted

ShetlandPony

Hmmm, and this surgeon who says not to wait three weeks happens to have an opening for you? Perhaps you have good insurance? (Sorry. Cynical.)

Anonymous

I agree with what others have said and I would go with the surgeon who you feel most comfortable with. My surgeon, who I hope to never see again, was good, but not compassionate. Every concern I had was "normal" and I didn't much information out of him. I wish I would have gone with a breast surgeon, because now I am dealing with nerve pain and tightness in my left side. Also, 3 weeks isn't long. I waited almost 6 weeks between diagnosis and surgery. Part of it was my fault for taking a while to decide between lumpectomy and mastectomy, but I am happy with the decision I made.

Thinkpink67

Thank you again everyone with your feedback. Had my MRI and genetic testing this morning, so waiting on the MRI results. I am definitely going my first surgeon that I liked the best. All of this is just hurry up and wait:

TennisPink

Thinkpink-- I am really glad you posted that topic. I am not HER2 (I am ER+/PR+) and I liked my first surgeon from the beginning....her manner, her approach and her personality. I was diagnosed on March 1st, and surgery won't be until early May (still no date!!) because that is the earliest that she can schedule with the plastic surgeon that will work along with her. So my surgery will be almost 9-10 weeks from diagnosis!! I have people telling me to get 2nd opinions, but I am afraid that if I go to get another opinion, they are going to say surgery will need to be sooner and it will scare me, and keep me up at night & end up with a surgeon that I don't like as much. I am going to stay the course and go with the plan. Glad to hear you are going with the first one you liked...I hope your MRI results look good, too.

Thinkpink67

tennispink I am so glad my post helped. I guess I'm glad I got the second opinion if only to know I was choosing the right team for me. It was also good the hear the exact same treatment plan that was first recommended to me. Thanks for asking about the MRI results. Other than the known cancer all was clear. Yay!

Kayb, I have met with my MO and they don't see me as someone who would benefit from chemo before surgery. I can't remember why. It's in my notebook at home and I'm out of town. It's my daughters spring break so we're living it up at the beach before my surgery and treatment!

I'm so grateful for this group to have support and advice from people that are all basically going through the same thing