Just diagnosed...how long did you wait before surgery?

Autum1031

I was diagnosed with an IDC on Wednesday, May 31st. I have an appointment on Monday to see a local breast surgeon (and one on Friday at the nearest cancer center). I don't know much about my situation yet, just that it appears to be early, nothing was in my lymph node during a biopsy, but the path report says I'm a Grade 3 and that I am estrogen and progesterone negative. I haven't received the results of my FISH test yet.

I'm curious how long on average people waited between first diagnosis and the surgery. On one hand, I of course want to start the treatment as soon as I possibly can, especially since in my limited understanding, I am lucky to be diagnosed early since my type of cancer is more aggressive and not as easily treated. On the other hand, I also have an expensive, "we've been waiting for this for a looong time" vacation on July 2nd - 10th. Obviously, my life is more important than ANY vacation - but it would be nice to go, if I can, especially since my life is gonna suck for awhile.

Artista928

I waited 2 months to have my bs and ps have time for me. No rush imo. Cancer doesn't grow that fast is what I was told.

ElaineTherese

Hmm.... I was diagnosed in late June and had my surgery in early January. So, 6.5 months? Some of us have chemo first. If you are triple negative, ER-/PR-/HER2-, you may have chemo first. Likewise, if you are HER2+, you may have chemo first. I was HER2+, so I had five months of chemo before my surgery. Thankfully, the chemo worked, and my active cancer was gone. So, I was able to get a lumpectomy.

Hope you get all your tests done and can map out a plan soon!

VL22

I'm getting surgery 6/15/17 - was diagnosed 5/5/17, but was told 4/21 at biopsy that I had cancer. For me the hold up was testing that thankfully came back negative. For me this hold up originally seemed earth shattering, but learned that the wait will change nothing. Be open with your Dr. - he or she will be honest with an opinion.

MinusTwo

I expect they want to see what the HER2 status is before doing anything. As Elaine says, if you're positive you will likely have chemo first.

I asked my MO about planned vacations to NYC in a month and a cruise to Alaska 3 months later. Actually I asked what he would recommend it I were his Mother. He said that treatment could wait a month but with my HER2+ diagnosis he didn't think it would be wise to wait 3 months. July is only a month so your MO may agree to your vacation.

lrwells50

Biopsy on 12/2, surgery on March 8

Autum1031

Thanks, I needed to hear that. Obviously everyone's situation is different, but I hope I can manage to make this work. My 6 year old son will be devastated if he can't go and visit his much beloved aunt. We moved far away from all family & friends a few years back for a job, and it's been really, really hard on him, so we're planning a nice long trip 'back home.'

gb2115

i had my surgery less than a month after diagnosis. I had to cancel a trip to Disney World. I wanted nothing else than getting the tumor out asap. I also knew I wouldn't have fun...who wants to be an anxious mess at Disney?

Tappermom383

I had my surgery eight days after my diagnosis because my DH and I had tickets to fly to Denver for our grandson's 1st birthday (three weeks post-op). The answer depends in part on what surgery you're having. My surgeon cleared me to go and I was fine. Did me a world of good! If you're having a mastectomy, that may be a different story and one I can't speak to.

MJ

EastcoastTS

Diagnosis 1/4/17 -- surgery 2/27/17. I took the time to get 2nd opinion (traveled/air for this). I also waited two weeks between funky ultrasound and biopsy because it was around the holidays and we were going snowboarding. I chose snowboarding over biopsy!!! LOL Maybe I'm crazy.

Was told by BS: breast cancer is usually a "personal" emergency but not a medical one, if that makes sense. Allowing me time to make decisions. Though each situation is different, of course.

Hope everything goes well for you...

Goincrzy8

Eastcoast I like that breast cancer is usually a "personal" emergency but not a medical one,

The cancer has been in our bodies growing for years before we find it. I was dx Oct 18 had surgery Dec 9. I needed to have time for my daughter to come home for surgery. During all this you will find its a hurry and wait game.

If you can go on your vacation, it will keep your mind off cancer for awhile.

stephincanada

goingcrazy8: it is not always true that breast cancer has been growing for years before it is found. Enriched HER2 cancer is described as a "brush fire", in that it is extraordinarily aggressive. My 2.1 cm tumour blew up between MRIs that were six months apart. It grew .8 of a centimetre in the 13 days between ultrasound and lumpectomy. Every case is different, and some require urgent attention.

Tpralph

i had to wait two months and one week from dx. Had BMx and immediate Diep. Could have had a umx within 6 weeks.

EastcoastTS

Goincrzy8:

I know that some may not like the phrase (because we're so consumed with fear at first and it seems like the biggest emergency on the planet), however, to doctors, there is time. Take a breath. And, damn, it takes time to wrap your head around all the information you need to and make decisions!

Goincrzy8

Stephincanada you are correct, we are all different and because you and I had IDC we have unique qualities that make us the same DX but different. Cancer is not an open book and everyone is on a different path.

EastCoast so true, I am impatient so I want answers now and I want appointments now so I can be finished with treatment and Know i did all I could. But when the dr office says I cant see you for 3 weeks, your mind is like what is happening to my body while I wait.

lrwells50

I find it very interesting how different people react to their diagnosis. One of the girls in my office had a lumpectomy and radiation last year. She has no idea what kind of cancer it was, or much about what other choices she had. She took the cheapest option. Admittedly, I'm on Medicare, and the kind of supplement that means I don't pay the copays, but I know a hell of a lot more about BC than I ever wanted to. I can't imagine just doing whatever the BS suggested. My BS gave me 4 choices, plus recon or no recon, and it took me forever to decide

Anonymous

I opted for lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy as soon as I could do it. I thought of it more as a diagnostic step (after the bilateral MRI that showed likely no other cancer in either breast)

Core needle biopsy May 3, diagnosed a few days after.

Bilateral MRI May 15

Lumpectomy May 25

Post op pathology report June 2 and send the tumor off for Oncotype/further study.

I will meet with genetic counselor (for BRCA etc) June 12. Will meet w med and rad oncologists for consult re rads and tamoxifen (I am er+) Wee of June 20. They should then have a lot of data in hand to make indicidualized recommendations for me.

BUT I already knew the surgeon I wanted though, so I didn't need to take time to vet a surgeon. AND from core biopsy pathology and pre-surgery imaging, neither pre-surgery chemo or rads or anything to shrink the tumor prior was indicated, so surgery was going to be the recommended first step in my case.

My theory, and surgeon agreed, is that you can always go back and take more later. She said sometimes women opt for mastectomy after pathology is back or they learn more about dangers of radiation etc. and she said insurance usually still covers that choice later

In my case she did get good margins and the sentinel nodes were clear -- yay! We are now doing oncotype on the tumor and with the additional pathology from surgery I feel more clear about what my options are, less hypotheticals to deal with.

Denise-G

The day after my case was diagnosed and the Tumor Board went over my case, they called me to

schedule Mastectomy.  I BUSTED out crying and said I wasn't ready even though I had a 6 cm tumor,

lots of nodes, and Her 2 Pos.   The surgeon's nurse practitioner called me.  I told her I needed more time

to process the grief of the loss of my breast and cancer diagnosis.  She said, "We will do what you need

as we treat the whole person, not just the cancer."   She then scheduled it 5 weeks later.  That is the

time I needed.   I'm still here 5 years later and never regretted waiting.

Artista928

You have to be mentally ready. You will do better as well if you are and not feel rushed. Most cases the cancer took a lot of time to get to where it is so it's not like it will get so much worse if you don't jump "now." It's not like a blocked artery or something like that where you need to get that taken care of asap.

Artista928

Irwells50- We can do our research but being how tricky cancer is I left it to my onc to decide tx plan. As much as I read up on Taxol and Taxotere, I'm in no position as a lay person to decide if one may be better for me or less se's than the other. We all differ. I was told Taxotere my hair won't come back, not may but won't. Also many found it harsher than Taxol (those who had both). It wasn't bad for me nor was the red devil as I took what I was told and my hair did come back as before but curlier. Some people too are not equipped to delve into details and they know they will get confused if they do. So it's better for that person mentally to put faith that you have a good team and go with what they advise. Some people will just fair better mentally with the least amount of info.

ready2bedone

My surgery was a little over a month after my diagnosis. I wanted it as soon as possible because I already have plans to go on an overseas trip in July and my son is getting married in September. I told my doctors of these upcoming plans in my first appointments with them and they have all been working with me to try to make it happen. They understand that these things are important for quality of life, and if at all possible they will work around them. Tell your doctors about your trip and they will be honest with you about what can and can't be done.

Smilingwifey40

I was diagnosed April 21st and had a double mastectomy on May 4th. I have IDC that's triple negative. My screenings were all normal up until October. I get ultrasounds too but this year I had a breast mri for the first time. With a high risk family and several losses, I stayed on top of everything.

But I found a lump that seemed to appear suddenly and grew between the time I had a biopsy first week of April and when I went in for results the 21st of April. At the rate it was going, MO decided she'd start chemo after my surgery. BS wanted to move fast so he got his wish. Every case of breast cancer can be different!

ksusan

Based on an ambiguous follow-up mammogram, I was told in early December, 2014 that I needed a biopsy. I was about to take students out of the country, and asked if I could wait 3-4 weeks for the biopsy. Based on the mammogram, I received that permission. Biopsy in early January showed DCIS, and a follow-up MRI and biopsy shortly thereafter showed IDC and a probable positive node on the other side. The surgeon proposed an early February date. This would have been 4 weeks after the first biopsy. I said that if he felt it was necessary, I'd do that, but that if I could wait about 2 weeks more, I would have much less stress at work and much less mess to clean up when I returned. He agreed. I double-checked--based on my specific situation, was the delay a problem? He said it wouldn't be, and I had the surgery about 9 weeks after the decision to have a biopsy (in other words, 6 weeks after first biopsy results; 2.5 weeks later than the surgeon's first proposed date).

I did need to cancel a vacation to Europe due to the radiation schedule. This was probably just as well since I was fatigued and sore by that point (sore radiated area, arm, nails, and overall blah). This is a great argument for buying trip insurance! We lost no money on the cancellation, and now (two years later) have a substitute trip planned.

Piscean

I had my first screening mammogram in January 2014. All clear. In October 2014, I felt a lump. I had a diagnostic mammo and ultrasound which led to a biopsy in November, 2014 and I received a BC diagnosis on Christmas Eve, 2014.

I saw a surgeon in February 2015. They wanted to schedule surgery on March 4. That was my birthday, and I was going to Maui. I said no way. The surgery was rescheduled for March 23, 2015.

I don't regret taking that holiday to Maui.

Since cancer is such a crap shoot, I would suggest that no one cancel their life's plans for surgery.

Just my opinion.

Good luck!

bcincolorado

I was diagnosed in August, had a wedding to attend so put of lumpectomy until October, then when needed re-excision to get more out put it off to get through Thanksgiving holiday. Then when it was decided I needed mastectomy put it off to get through Christmas so didn't do that until January. I totally agree...it is a crapshoot with cancer and don't stop your life if you can avoid it.

Autum1031

this is all *incredibly* helpful to me, thank you! I know each case of cancer is different, and it seems there are types that grow very quickly and must be taken care of right away. I'm afraid that I am going to fall into one of those categories....but I will know more tomorrow when I see a local surgeon, and probably even more when I see the cancer center surgeon on Friday.

I have two big life events in July-- the first being the trip from July 2- 10th, and then I am traveling to Portland for a week between July 24 - 30th for a professional opportunity (a big one). I'm hopeful that I can salvage at least one of these. I guess I will find out more tomorrow....I hope.

MinusTwo

Autum - Unless you turn up ER/PR negative and strongly HER2 positive, you should be able to make at least one of your trips. You can at least advocate for yourself. Hoping you get good news. Please do let us know.

Autum1031

So, I went in for my initial consult today. I am ER-, PR- HR2-, with a small 6mm tumor, Grade 3. I'm not really sure what to think after this visit, but I already have a second opinion visit scheduled for Friday at a nearby cancer center.

She was completely on board with me having the surgery after my vacation, since she recommended genetic testing, and it will take almost that long, anyway to get the results. If I choose to have a lumpectomy vs. a mastectomy, I should even be able to do my late July trip to Portland. She felt that I could easily have the lumpectomy on July 11th or 12th, and be well enough to travel on July 22nd (barring any unforeseen complications, etc). Chemo and/or radiation would not be until August.

What confused me was that everything on this site has terrified me about having triple negative breast cancer--(essentially that I'm either doomed, or at the minimum, need extremely aggressive treatment) - so I was surprised she was very forceful about me only needing a lumpectomy, and not a mastectomy, and having a mastectomy would not "give me a better treatment."

I guess to sum up, that threw me off so much that I feel like I need a second opinion on everything....although at the moment I am certainly leaning towards keeping my trip 'as is.'

Goincrzy8

I have 2 friends who both were TN and they both only had lumpectomy. They are both 10 yrs cancer free. Both did chemo. I wanted a lumpectomy but surgeon knew better, the mass was bigger than he thought and no way could I have lumpectomy, so I had LMX. If you do lumpectomy you can always have mastectomy not the other way around. Good luck with your choice. Enjoy those trips. I love Portland, my daughter lives there now for about 2 yrs.

CeliaC

Autum - Agree that it's a good thing to have a 2nd consult. I did not in re: surgery, but did have a 2nd consult in re: radiation. Diagnosed on 12/2/16 & Lumpectomy on 12/21/16. With how I felt 10-12 days post lumpectomy, would not have been up for travel. However, everyone experiences healing/recuperation differently (at 62, did not bounce back as quickly as I would have wished). Just be sure to be gentle on yourself. Will your trip to Portland involve air travel? Uplifting and healing thoughts to you on your BC journey.

Autum1031

Hi CeliaC, yes, my trip to Portland would involve air travel. It's an important trip to me, both personally and professionally. Professionally, I was supposed to speak at a major conference two summers ago when I had a sudden onset of some debilitating symptoms (fatigue, dizziness, etc) that later turned out to be fibromyalgia. I had to cancel all of my professional activities. This is, ironically, a "reschedule" of all those things I couldn't do 2 years ago. So, of course now I have breast cancer. :-/ I will do anything I can to make this trip happen.

I was over in the TN community and I think they're talking me down from the ledge! I wish the BS had explained things in terms that made more sense to me. I'm looking forward to my second consult.