Time from diagnosis to surgery

Taralynn

If you did not have Chemo before surgery, what was the time frame between your diagnosis and surgery date? I was officially diagnosed 10/15 and my surgery won’t be until 12/15. I feel like 2 months isn’t too bad, but since I started having concerns in the summer, and saw my first doctor mid September, it just seems like I’ve been waiting forever. I hate that I have a whole month to go still. Curious what everyone else has experienced! I’m having a BMX with immediate reconstruction.

SuQu31

I had about 6 weeks from “official" diagnosis to surgery. I also had BMX with immediate reconstruction, so getting everything scheduled took a little while. I was having tests all throughout October and knew it was cancer a few weeks before the official diagnosis. My MRI showed concerns about mets to lymph nodes and one surgeon I consulted felt I should not wait more than 2-3 weeks. Fortunately the MRI finding did not turn out to be true, but it was certainly on my mind during the wait. I used the time to try to prepare myself as much as possible, but it was hard.

Everyone reminded me that there were women who were in more time-sensitive circumstances who needed to have surgery right away, along with those who had been waiting their turn like me. It was a good reminder, but it's still hard to wait.

I had my surgery the same time of year as yours will be. It's a good, slow time of year and ended up working out very well. Best wishes to you.

moth

I had my surgery 8 days after receiving the final posiitive biopsy results but I was a lumpectomy so didn't need a consult with plastics.

There IS research on optimal Time To Surgery (TTS) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC47885...

" Breast cancer-specific mortality increased with each 60-d interval " So time does seem to matter & you're kind of pushing the envelope....

Maybe there is another surgeon in the practice or a cancellation list or something?

Sunshine99

Hi Taralynn, my first diagnosis was similar to yours. I found my lump in late September, but didn't go to my PCP until the end of October. We had huge wildfires break out and we had friends staying with us. I was diagnosed on November 2nd (or close to that) and I had my surgery on around the 9th of December. I scheduled it for the day after we threw a huge holiday party at our house. It was a good distraction.

I did not have reconstruction and my chemo didn't start until January.

Waiting is always the hardest part, as anyone will tell you.

The best of luck to you!!! (((hugs)))

Taralynn

That’s a great perspective Su, thank you! I also “knew” it was cancer a few weeks before the actual confirmation so it does make the wait seem even longer. I also have concerns about one lymph node after my MRI and am having a biopsy on that tomorrow morning. Hopefully, like yours, mine is a false alarm!

I am grateful for the extra time to get in all my pre-op tests without having a mad rush. They’re all spaced out a bit so as to not make me frazzled. So that’s good!

Taralynn

thank you Moth! I definitely will be asking this week about a cancellation list. the surgeon and plastic surgeon have to coordinate so I’m sure that’s a challenge. I also do need one more biopsy which is tomorrow. I was expecting a date in early December, so the 15th threw me..... when I originally met with the BS on 10/22 she said about 4-6 weeks for surgery, which would have brought me to 12/3 at the max. But with the holiday and now this new biopsy needed I guess that interrupted things

JanetM

For me the wait is about 8 weeks from first biopsy, followed by an MRI, followed by another biopsy and then my plastic surgery consult. Surgery this Thursday (11/19) for a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction.

MinusTwo

Interesting question. I actually went o look my dates up. The first time with all the testing & coordination of surgeons, my wait from discovery of the lump to BMX surgery was 12/14 to 2/15. The second time I had to do chemo first and the docs said it was urgent enough I should cancel a planned vacation. But again, with all the testing the wait was still from 3/14 - 4/17.

Good luck Taralynn

Oh - I should add I've been NED for almost 7 years now.

Mountainlover

I was diagnosed in early June and had surgery mid-July. The first BS I saw said I could have gone on holiday first , had I wanted to. Everyone in the second medical team (major university hospital) said I should rather wait a bit longer for surgery but feel confident about the plan. I ended up "losing" 2 weeks as I wanted to at least try immediate reconstruction , and that's why I changed hospital. Noone seemed concerned about the wait except me! In fact I was supposed to be operated later in July but they found an earlier slot maybe due to cancellation.

All the best.

Francesca30

hi taralynn, diagnosed Feb 25, 2019 , unilateral mastectomy on March 14, 2019, then chemo April 8, 2019

SpecialK

taralynn - mammo and ultrasound that led to biopsy 9/9, biopsy 9/22, diagnosis 9/27, surgery 11/1. I am adopted and my surgeon wanted BRCA results before he made a firm recommendation on type of surgery, and because I had skin and nipple sparing BMX the schedule coordination between his office and the plastic surgeon who did that type of reconstruction had to be accomodated. Long delay to chemo due to an additional four surgeries for additional node removal and skin remediation issues done in Dec and Jan. Started chemo 2/17, but it has now been 10 years since diagnosis and treatment. I know the delays are kind of nerve wracking, wishing you the best!

MountainMia

My surgery was about 7 weeks after diagnosis. In the meantime I traveled to see family, a long-planned 3-week trip, and waited for the results of my genetic testing. If I had been gene-positive, I would have chosen double mastectomy instead of lumpectomy, which might have delayed the surgery a bit more.

I had a grade 3 tumor, most aggressive, so I'm glad my surgery was within the 60 days recommended.

bcincolorado

I was diagnosed in August one year and had first attempt (lumpectomy) surgery in September. Then needed more taken out after pathology had to take more out and due to a family wedding we did not do that until November. Then after that one......they said it had to go and waited until after Christmas and New Years to do MX.

Ladyofthelake

I got my diagnosis Oct 18th 2018, and was scheduled for my BMX and reconstruction Dec 12th, 2018. That would have been along the same timeline as almost everyone else on this thread. Unfortunately I caught a cold a week before surgery, so it was postponed. Trying to reschedule two surgeons over the holidays added another 6 weeks to my wait time, and I was so disappointed. I eventually had the surgery January 21, 2019.

Nighthawk13

I was diagnosed on November 24th, and had my lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy yesterday on December 4th, so 10 days. It has been a lot to process in a short period of time. If it's relevant, I live in the Toronto area in Canada

NancyGC

Hi Taralynn, from official diagnosis to surgery was 3 weeks for me. I pretty much knew it was cancer a week or two prior though. The delay of waiting is brutal. The not knowing if you're stage 1 or 4.

Catchi

Hi Taralynn, hope your surgery went well! I am still waiting for my surgery to be scheduled. I was diagnosed 10/26/20 with DCIS Stage 0 then had an US 11/18/20, MRI and another biopsy on 12/3/20. The biopsy results indicated I had IDC Stage 1A, ER+/PR+, HER2-. I just met with a plastic surgeon last week and now waiting to meet with BS on 1/14/21 to discuss pre-surgery details and scheduling. The holidays has made it difficult to schedule an earlier appointment with my BS, although she assured I am still okay having surgery in January. It definitely seems like forever as I just want this out ASAP!

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AB45

Hi

My official diagnosis was 11/30/2020. My surgery is scheduled for 1/8/2021 however my first mammogram and this first began 10/29/2020.

I agree, it feels like a lifetime

Best Wishes

kaboozle

Hi all!

My personal timeline was a bit delayed. 1st mammogram was on 7/28/2020, but I wasn't officially diagnosed until 9/1. Because I chose to have IORT along with my lumpectomy, I had to switch surgeons and surgery dates changed from Oct 8th to the 30th. I also needed to have a re-excision 10 days later, ugh! At least that's all in the rearview mirror now. While you're waiting your turn, time does seems to stand still.