Timing of surgery after diagnosis

marycal

Hello there -

I have been reading the many posts about this subject, but still feel compelled to ask the question again in regards to me. I was diagnosed on 4/17 - meaning, that's when the doctor told me the results of my core needle biopsy. I found my lump at the very end of February, and after many diagnostic tests, waiting for appts, everyone telling me it was surely a cyst, etc, I finally got a path report on 4/17. I've been told by all my doctors, and second opinion docs that this is slow growing, and I have some time to make surgical decisions. Which I labored over. I finally decided that I'm going with a lumpectomy (at least for now). I scheduled the surgery for 5/23. I would've liked to do it one week earlier, but my doc is on vacation.

I was fine with that until I met with a radiation oncologist who said that the final path of the tumor is often different than what shows through core needle biopsy. Says she sees it all the time. I FREAKED out. Now I'm worried that my tumor may not be slow growing at all?! Or the biology will turn out to not be so favorable?! Then I started looking into it and have read some studies that say overall disease free survival decreases with each month that surgery is delayed from diagnosis.

So my questions to you, the all knowing and caring group of people, is 5 weeks too long??!!! Have I messed up by not getting this thing out already? I mean, it will be 5 weeks from diagnosis, but almost 3 months since I found the lump. Now I'm thinking that is just too long.

Thank you so much.

Goincrzy8

I found my lump end of June, saw Dr in July, final DX Oct 18th it was positive. Saw Surgeon end of Nov, surgery Dec 9th. This cancer has been in our bodys for years, I had Left sided Mastectomy and the after lymph nodes and they look at tumor things do change.

Take a deep breath, waiting is the hardest.

msphil

found lump in September biopsy October started chemo for 3 months before in October Lmast December then 3 months chemo after then got married was planning our wedding when found lump then rats for seven wks 5 days a week. Am now a 23yr Survivor this yr Praise God. God Bless Us All

ChiSandy

No lump for me. On my 20th annual mammo, 8/17, radiology report said “focal asymmetry not present on prior mammograms” and classified it as BIRADS 0: diagnostic mammo & possible ultrasound recommended. First appt. I could get to do the latter was 8/24, and the radiologist told me it looked malignant but only a biopsy could tell. Due to work/travel plans, couldn’t have the core needle biopsy till 9/8 (while I was away, got a message in my patient portal and saw the classification changed to BIRADS 4B). Got my diagnosis the next day. Met with BS 9/14 and decided on lumpectomy + radiation, and scheduled and had lumpectomy 9/23. Surgical path results came back 9/28.

Had I not booked a Mediterranean cruise for mid-December, I might have allowed a more relaxed timetable between diagnosis & surgery, but I wanted to be done with post-op recovery and rads before leaving. Of course, a re-excision, chemo, longer radiation protocol or mastectomy (with or w/o reconstruction) would have put the kibosh on the cruise. But I was lucky that everything fell into place at the right time.

ParisParis

Do not worry too much. I was told that my cancer was slow growing in biopsy report and I had to wait 49 days for my surgery - more than 7 weeks. It was the earliest date offered to me - they clearly did not consider me an urgent case... The cancer had been there for years, so I did not think that a week or two more would make the slightest difference. The pathology report after my surgery showed the same results as the biopsy, the mass was just 2 mm larger than the ultrasound showed.

Size discrepancy is common, as ultrasound tends to underestimate the dimensions. Apparently some cancers are upgraded one grade (mainly because of mitotic count) after full pathology, but it is not the rule. Very rarely will a cancer be downgraded,

BG46TN

I found my lump in October 2016, had a biopsy and was diagnosed within 2 weeks....Started chemo in Nov, i am triple neg, more aggressive cancer....I just had my surgery (double mastectomy) 4 weeks ago (April 17th)..and will start radiation in about 4 weeks...everyone is different, trust your drs..

do you know what type of cancer you have? some types the drs like to do chemo first....

Artista928

Try not to fret. I had sx 2 months after dx'd but the cancer was there long before dx. I was waiting for my help to become free for the few days after sx. I was told ideal to get it out before summer was out (dx 6/2) which meant 3 mo.

Tappermom383

My regular screening mammo last October showed a "questionable appearance of distortion within an area of dense fibroglandular tissue." That led to a diagnostic mammo and ultrasound in November, then a breast MRI in December. Saw the surgeon in January; he ordered a core needle biopsy. Because of some miscommunication, that didn't happen until March. When I got my diagnosis on March 23, the surgeon expedited my surgery not because of my cancer but because I had already booked a flight to Denver for my grandson's 1st birthday. So It was five months from the first inkling to my surgery. At three months, you're doing OK.

Sounds like we have a similar diagnosis. Best of luck with your lumpectomy next week - it will be here before you know it. Other than some discomfort (mostly from my SNB), I was fine. But I heeded the advice of the sages on this site and took it easy. It wasn't until I read my operative report that it hit me the surgical glue on my skin wasn't all that was holding me together - there were internal stitches. You have to respect them and give everything a chance to heal.

Will you be having radiation? I just had my mapping yesterday and will probably start treatments next week. Then I'll be on Arimidex since I'm also ER+.

Keep us posted on how you're doing!

MJ

Mucki1991

found my 2.3cm lump 4.11 mamo 4.18 biopsy 5.3 path back 5.5 .. met with bs 5.11 genetics test 5.15

Second opinion sched 5.22 still waiting on MRI approval my special friend is moderately aggressive. I seriously doubt I will be in surgery until sometime in June. I would love to have it out before then but I'll not be getting it my way this time!

marycal

As usual, you have all talked me off a ledge (in a matter of speaking). Thank you. Although it's still hard to wait and I feel like it has been so so long, I am taking a breath and just holding on. Less than a week to go now.

ParisParis - thanks for the heads up regarding size discrepancy and grading after final path.

Tappermom383 - thanks for details of your treatment so far and how you fared. helps me calm down a bit. i'm waiting for the full report to decide for sure, but yes, it looks like radiation is where i'm heading. best of luck to you as you start your rads treatments.