3 month+ wait time for surgery normal???

Kathryn3 · October 2012

Kathryn3 · October 2012

I am relatively new to Canada. My family moved here about three years ago. We are on OHIP. I was diagnosed July 18 with DCIS grade 3 with comedonecrosis. There was a lot of it then, 6x5 cm. I had another mammogram in Sept and it has grown significantly. It's now up to 9 cm. I met my surgeon and plastic surgeon Aug 27 in London. I still have no surgery date. We are planning BMX with immediate diep. I call every couple days and check on what the next step is and it seems that there keep being more tests run but no end point in sight. I am concerned that these delays are going to have an impact on disease progression. For those of you more familiar with the system, how can I effectively advocate for quicker treatment? Is this wait time comparable to what you experienced?

I didn't realize how stressful this had become until I was sitting in the lab getting blood drawn and started silently weeping. The phlebotomist asked if she was hurting me and I said no, I was afraid I was going to die because no one was going to do anything to stop it. I hope some of you will help me put this into better perspective. Thanks.

thefuzzylemon · October 2012

Hello - It appears there was another in your situation with the OHIP. I've copied the link for you so you can look at her thread incase there is information for you:

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/55/topic/733188

Dragonfly2012 · October 2012

Kathryn3, sorry to hear about your situation. I am in Toronto and the wait times for surgery can be very long. I had to wait 6 months for my BMX with immediate reconstruction (tissue expanders which were subsequently replaced with implants). And that apparently was considered a very short wait period. If I had opted for a mastectomy without reconstruction, I would have waited 3 months just for that. I know how frustrating it is. Try to hang in there.

Kathryn3 · October 2012

Thanks for the info Dragonfly. I am working hard on being patient and on not worrying. I'm sorry to hear that there are delays in the other cities, but it is good to know. I was thinking of asking my doctor if it would be quicker or better to go to Toronto or even Ottawa. The docs here are nice and they are competent, just overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of those needing treatment. I am not upset with them, just having a hard time dealing with all this uncertainty.

Anyway, hope you have a happy Thanksgiving. I know I have so many things to be thankful for!

Round2inCobourg · November 2012

Hi,-

I'm sure you've already been directed here, but in case not:

http://waittimes.hco-on.ca/en/search/surgery/adult#/cancer/breast-cancer

Hope this gives you some better information that will help with the stress of waiting.

Kathryn3 · December 2012

Thanks Round 2. I was just getting home from the hospital when you posted. Path was unfortunately worse than expected, so I'm back on the waiting merry go round. There's enough to keep me busy is time of year, so hopefully this wait time will pass quickly. They want me to consult with a medical oncologist to make some decisions about chemo, and we know that I need radiation. While I wait to see the medical oncologist, I have med the radiation oncologist and they are getting me in for my simulation and the positioning tattoos next week. Thanks again for your kind link.

3 month+ wait time for surgery normal???

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