Safest Time Frame Between Diagnose to Surgery

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Bubu
Bubu Member Posts: 11
edited August 2014 in Just Diagnosed

Due to HMO restriction,  I might not be able to get my surgery and treatment at a cancer specialized center (with good reputation) until I switch to PPO effective 10/1/2014.  I was diagnosed on 8/1/14. I was told by my surgeon, oncologist, 2nd opinion doctor that max wait time for surgery shouldn't be more than 60 days from diagnosis.  I would like to ask the community your experience and the advice you have given about the time frame between diagnose and surgery?   Would it be safe to have surgery after 60 days of diagnosis? 

I am having a mastectomy on left breast. size max at 1cm, hormone receptors + @ 97% and 80%, Her/2 negative.   Invasive ductal carcinoma

Thank you very much. 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2014

    I was diagnosed the first week of October and didn't have my surgery until Nov 30th.  This was mainly due to scheduling conflicts between my plastic surgeon (who was about to leave on a one month vacation to Australia) and breast surgeon.  I could have chosen a different PS, but I really wanted them as they have done many surgeries together and I was getting a more complicated nipple sparing procedure.

    Sounds like my tumor was similar to yours.  My mother did freak out that I was waiting that long. ( I did "joke" with her that if my cancer was so aggressive that I couldn't even wait 2 months for surgery than I was doomed anyway ---- she didn't think that was funny!) 

    I did take advantage of the extra time to eat really healthily, exercise, etc and felt like I was in really great shape before the surgery which probably helped me recover quicker.  Plus it was nice having the extra time to "wrap my head around" the fact that I breast cancer before I was rushed into surgery.

    I'm 4 years out and so far so good!.....(I'm going to go knock on some wood now though.  )

    Best of luck to you. :)

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  • kamm
    kamm Member Posts: 140
    edited August 2014

    I was told six weeks. It's funny you even mentioned that because I remember now that she said that because we were trying to coordinate plastics with her schedule and it was a three week delay.

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  • inks
    inks Member Posts: 746
    edited August 2014

    Could you ask if you would be able to start your anti hormonal therapy while you wait? I thought there was another woman on these boards who had insurance issues and she was put on hormone blockers while she was waiting to get her ducks in a row.

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  • juneping
    juneping Member Posts: 1,594
    edited August 2014

    the nurse of my BS told me the surgeon didn't like to wait more than a month. i was dx in early Nov and didn't get the surgery until mid Dec. two months aren't that long. and agreed with Susan that take this extra time to eat really healthy and put your body into some shape to face the surgery.

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  • vbishop
    vbishop Member Posts: 616
    edited August 2014

    Bubu -

    I think the cancer grade could also be a factor.  If the cancer is grade three, the doctors may not want to wait that long because of the aggressive nature of grade 3.  I would confirm with your medical team.

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  • Summer1234
    Summer1234 Member Posts: 14
    edited August 2014

    cancer grade was a factor for me as it was a grade 3 and my age 34 dx August 9th 2013 and had my op September 2nd so only had to wait 24 days before it was removed  

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  • Blessings2011
    Blessings2011 Member Posts: 4,276
    edited August 2014

    It all has to do with your diagnosis. 

    I got my dx in September 2011, but didn't have my surgery til December 2011. (Rescheduled once due to scheduling conflicts with BS and PS, and then because I got sick.) Obviously, my BS was o.k. with this.

    Honestly, I think your doctor would be the best judge of how long you can wait.... we are all so different here, and I've found that different docs may have much different protocols for similar diagnoses.

    Wishing you the best!!!

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  • jc254
    jc254 Member Posts: 439
    edited August 2014

    I waited almost 5 months after diagnosis. My surgeon started me on letrozole while I participated in a clinical trial before surgery.  

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  • msphil
    msphil Member Posts: 1,536
    edited August 2014

    I was diagnosed in September, had biopsy, then 3 months of chemo, then surgery, L mast, then 3 more months of chemo after, I gott married, for I was planning my wedding when I found the lump, then 7 wks of rads 5 days a week, and 5 yrs on tamoxifen. Thank and Praise GOD, with support and lots of prayer, I am now a 20 yr SURVIVOR.  Hang in there and have HOPE and stay Positive. msphil ( idc, stage 2, 0/3 nodes, chemo and rads and 5 yrs on tamoxifen)  

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  • beatrice00
    beatrice00 Member Posts: 103
    edited August 2014

    I waited from August 9 to September 30. I think that any breast surgeon can do removal, the plastic surgeon is the key to getting a good result. I had very little to do with the breast surgeon, three visits total, but I have seen the plastic surgeon numerous times, he has referred me to a rehab doctor and psychiatrist and has been most important in my care. The rehab doctor found my thyroid cancer and so on. The breast surgeon just did the removal and that's it. 

    If you have an advanced stage I would do BMX soon and not wait. You can always switch your care to the cancer center once you switch insurance. Good luck. 

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