Has any one else had to wit a long time before treatment began?

tgood02 · June 2010

tgood02 · June 2010

A mammogram found the cancer back in March. In April I had diagnostic mammogram and ultra sound. In May I had the biopsy, which came back IDC. In June tests are scheduled, a pet scan and MRI. I Have an appointment for July 1st with the surgeon. The surgeon's nurse told me that it would be another two weeks or so before the surgery. Is that normal? Does it usually take that long?

rackie · June 2010

i had the same thing. i had a mammogram on april 1. followed by a stereotactic biospy on may 15th. had surgeryon calcified area and some lymphnodes on june 15th. go today for results and do not have a clue when treatment will begin or if i need more surgery. i too am worried that this is taking way too long. i have heard of others who have had diagnosis, surgery and treatment all within a one month period,

tgood02 · June 2010

mammogram March 19 , Diagnostic mammogram and ultra Sound April 19. Biopsy May 11. Pet Scan June 7. MRI June 11.Will not see anyone the rest of the month. July 1st I see the Oncologist and July 14 the surgeon. By then 4 month will have gone by. Clearly no one feels there is any hurry to get it done.

How long a waiting period id safe? It is evidently a small cancer, but it it is invasive. Doesn't all this waiting increase the likelihood, that it will grow and spread into other areas?

rackie · June 2010

i agree. i am just going to the surgeon for my results. i am scared, but need to get on with the treatments. i will update later. i am in the same vote as you.

rackie · June 2010

found out that i have invasive ductal carcinoma and it is in the lymphnodes. i go to the oncologist on tuesday to see the course of treatment. i assume that i will still need a ct scan or mri. i am scared because i have been waitning so long. i don't care what the treatments are, i just want them and the sooner the better. in fact, i am going to a small hospital. i will strt my treatments there, but want to get transferred to the big regional health sciences cancer centre near here. i have more confidence in that place. i started this nightmare back on march 5th! so i know exactly how you feel!

IsThisForReal · June 2010

Rackie - are you in Canada by any chance?

rackie · July 2010

yes i am in toronto. where are you ?

IsThisForReal · July 2010

Saskatchewan. I had the same problem here, but ended up starting chemo @ 9 - 10 weeks. Sending you a PM.

DiDel · July 2010

That sounds crazy to me. I had mammo & US Nov 9th, core needle biopsy one hour later, Nov 12the results of Biopsy from GYN, Nov 14th(Saturday) met with Breast Surgeon to go over everything, MRI Dec 1st results Dec 3rd meeting with BS that day, PS Dec 8th, surgery Dec 23rd. Medical oncologist consult March 1st started Chemo March 17th completed May 17th. The only reason my surgery took so long was because my BS went out of the country for 2 weeks to do something for National Geographic! I would have been a complete wreck if I have to wait so long in between appointments. I was in constant communications with docs in between appointments and all through chemo,. I thought cancer doubled in size every 90 days.

Rackie is your oncologist a surgical oncologist (Breast Surgeon)? If not, I would find one fast in a facility that can handle treating you ASAP. I guess I am lucky to be in Baltimore, lots of big cancer hospitals here. What city is everyone in that is taking so long?? Can you travel to a big city and get treated faster there.

I would speak up and see what you can move along. You need to be your own advocate, no one else will speak up for you. I think every day is critical esp for your mental health.

Good luck!!!

CoolBreeze · July 2010

Cancer doesn't double in size every 90 days. Most cancers are very slow growing and have been there for years. Some, however, can be dangerous and waiting five months to even see a surgeon sounds crazy to me.

I had my diagnostic mammogram/sonogram on August 17th, was told I had cancer at that point, August 27th (I think) I had all of my biopsies to determine what type. I saw my surgeon September 1st, my oncologist September 14th, had an MRI September 15th, my plastic surgeon in early October and had my mastectomy October 21.

It was 2 months start to finish, and, the only reason it took so long to have the surgery was because I wanted a lumpectomy rather than mastectomy and had to have an MRI guided core biopsy to see if it was possible.

I agree with the above poster - you need to speak up and find somebody who will treat you quickly.

Sherry9316 · July 2010

I am really surprised at the time table described by you girls at the beginning of this thread. I was diagnosed on 4/20 - had appointment with surgeon a week later. Had 1st surgery 3 days after meeting with surgeon and 2nd surgery 10 days later. Met with oncologist for 1st time 3 weeks after second surgery and started chemo one week after that. In between that time, had MRI, CT scan and bone scan.

I would be pushing someone to do something a little quicker. Don't know if the problem is with surgeon/onco/ or insurance company. But I would definitely take an active stand. Sitting around waiting, wondering, not knowing is the absolute worst part of this ordeal.

DiDel · July 2010

I am staring at the Clinical growth rate of breast cancer graph my BS gave me. The cells double in size every 90days. Yes it takes years for a single cell to develop into a tumor big enough to detect but once it reaches the 1cm mark every 90 days is critical.

rachel5738 · July 2010

I am in Toronto area in Canada and things seemed to move much faster than posted above. Granted--this is my 2nd cancer diagnosis and I think they were rushing me through. I had Mammo/US mid-June, met with my Doctor where confirmed it was lump, she scheduled biopsy and meet with Surgeon at same time right away and I am having surgery on Monday--from official diagnosis to surgery--2 weeks. I have received my diagnosis of IDC and just want everything to start--I still don't have idea of whether it has spread or not but remaining hopeful. Aarrghh...cancer sucks.

IsThisForReal · July 2010

I agree that being your own advocate is absolutely critical. In my case, I called the Health Minister and told them I was going to a certain television station because if this was happening to me, it was happening to others and people have a right to know what's going on. I wasn't bluffing. I knew I was HER2+++ as well as ER/PR highly positive. In my mind, I was fighting for my life to get to the Onc so I could start chemo and herceptin. Funny how my file made it to the Onc's office that morning, and my appt. was booked that very afternoon.

Has any one else had to wit a long time before treatment began?

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