Chemo after mastectomy/reconstruction

Options
Teach139
Teach139 Member Posts: 2
edited June 2014 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

I recently had a bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction. My pathology came back and I am Stage 1 .... Negative nodes and negative margins. I met with an oncologist who gave me all types of statistical info  and at that point we were waiting for my onco score. While he was very nice I found him a little impersonal. I am so nervous and need to feel close with my oncologist since we will have a relationship for a few years. They are recommending chemo and his nurse has called to set things up.  I am 5 weeks out of surgery and want to go for a second opinion. My PS recommended an oncologist and I trust her more than anyone. She treats me like family and wouldn't steer me wrong. The problem is I couldn't get an appointment with her until the beginning of June. Is there a deadline after surgery to starting chemo? Can I start chemo 10 weeks after my surgery or is that too late? Any advice would be helpful. 

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • sundermom
    sundermom Member Posts: 463
    edited May 2014

    I don't know if there is a deadline, but my MO recommended I start chemo 4 weeks after surgery. I was Grade 3 with 2+ nodes so maybe that was the reason for the rather quick start.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited May 2014

    They usually like to start within 8 weeks, but since you were node negative, perhaps the extra 2 weeks will not be a big deal.  My only hesitation is that if it takes so long to get an appointment, how will she deal with issues that come up during chemo that need to be seen right away.  Best of luck to you.  I had similar stats...1.9 cm tumor, negative nodes.  Had BMX in August and did 4 rounds of TC chemo starting in Sept.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Spunky825
    Spunky825 Member Posts: 8
    edited May 2014

    I believe that the time to start chemo is no more than 4 weeks after surgery.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • robsp
    robsp Member Posts: 50
    edited May 2014

    You can try to find some articles about the subject, for instance, 

    Time to Initiation of Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Early Breast Cancer and Outcome: The Earlier, the Better?

    http://jco.ascopubs.org/content/32/8/717.full

    I think 12 weeks is maximum time to wait. Does your cancer is PR/ER+ and you will take tamoxifen ?  If

    your cancer is PR/ER+ maybe time is not so critical, but I would try to target 8 or 9 weeks for wait time.


    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories