How long is too long to wait?

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sundermom
sundermom Member Posts: 463
edited June 2014 in Stage I Breast Cancer

I was officially diagnosed with IDC Stage I Grade 2 ER+/PrG+ a week ago from today.  I saw the surgeon last week and have opted for a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction.  I see the oncologist on Thursday as we are still awaiting HER2 results.  However, I don't see the plastic surgeon until the 29th!  That means the surgery won't be until December or possibly early January. I found this lump on October 23rd and from my perspective things seem to be moving so slowly.  How long did you wait from diagnosis to surgery? I just keep thinking about this stuff growing inside of me and it's making me crazy!  I want it out NOW!!!

Being 37, I'm pre-menopausal, so there has been some discussion of the need to control my hormones.  I've read about Tamoxifin, but also having your ovaries removed.  Any experience with either of these???

 Thanks!t

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  • catbill
    catbill Member Posts: 326
    edited November 2010

    Hi again!

    Try not to worry too much.  I felt like you did, and I had to wait for my breast cancer surgeon to take a week's vacation and 10 days to see the plastic surgeon.  These time frames didn't overlap either.  It would have been longer, but I asked the plastic surgeon to call me if they got a cancellation, and it just worked out that they did.  Maybe you could talk with your plastic surgeon about something like that.  All in all I waited 4 weeks between biopsy and surgery.

    You are stage 1-very good, you are grade 2-not the most aggressive-good, you are ER/PR positive-good.  You sound like a better prognosis, so far, and that's great.   I can't comment on ovaries out because I had a hysterectomy many years ago for too much estrogen in my system. (Can you believe that???)  Did too much estrogen cause my breast cancer-I guess I'll never know.  I will be on Arimidex, not Tamoxifen.  I'm guessing they will speak with you about Tamoxifen, but don't be afraid to get a second opinion before deciding what to do about your ovaries.

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  • citykitty
    citykitty Member Posts: 244
    edited November 2010

    Well, I'm no expert, but one thing I've learned is that each situation is different.  I know the waiting is frustrating as all get-out -- I'm in that same phase right now, and if it makes you feel any better, I've been waiting for months!  It's excruciating!

    I found my lump in July.  It was about 5-6 weeks before I had a surgical biopsy, and it took another 2 months after that for me to get second opinions, choose a surgeon, get in to see her, and have a re-excision and sentinel node biopsy.  I'm going for my post-op today to find out whether there was cancer in the nodes and what comes next -- presumably an appointment with an oncologist.

    I have both DCIS and IDC, triple positive, clinically Stage I but awaiting final staging pending SNB results.

    I know it can drive you batty thinking about the cancer growing inside you.  Somewhere I read or was told that it's probably been there for years, so try not to stress over another couple of months.  I read it is more important to get good care than to get immediate care.  That actually made me feel a little better, and I hope it does the same for you. 

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