Elapsed time between neoadjuvant chemo and surgery

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patty101014
patty101014 Member Posts: 53
edited March 2015 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

I have a question for those who had neoadjuvant chemo prior to surgery. How long did you have to wait between chemo ending and your surgery. I am currently looking at an almost 8 week delay and I am a bit concerned that the tumor will start to regrow

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited March 2015

    My UMX was 2 weeks after neoadjuvant 4 DD A/C. It was 3 weeks after UMX that I started 12 weekly Taxol adjuvant. A week after last Taxol, I started 25 rads.

    We are all different as are our Drs and thus our TX plans.

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited March 2015

    Hi!

    My last chemo was on December 3, and my surgery was on January 12. In between the chemo and the surgery, I had an MRI, PET scan, and MUGA scan. The MRI and PET scan showed no active cancer left, so I didn't mind waiting a bit for my surgery.

    By the way, it takes awhile for your body to recover from chemo; it is better to get your surgery when you're back to full health.

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  • Shoppingmommy24
    Shoppingmommy24 Member Posts: 9
    edited March 2015

    my last chemo was January 14 and my surgery was 2/26. So about 6 weeks.

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  • Meadow
    Meadow Member Posts: 2,007
    edited March 2015

    Hi, I waited almost 4 weeks, and like Elaine said, I know my onc wanted to wait at least that long to allow my body some time to recover. Patty, have you shared your concern with your team? Call and leave a message with your onc and surgeons nurses, they will get back to you with what they are thinking. ((((hugs))))

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  • patty101014
    patty101014 Member Posts: 53
    edited March 2015

    thank you. I did leave a message with my BS nurse late this afternoon. I am not happy with the lack of response from my PS office. I was supposed to have a date on Wednesday and they haven't returned my calls. I only found out my current surgery date by calling the scheduler for office appointments this afternoon. I feel like I am slipping go through the cracks

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  • Butterfly53
    Butterfly53 Member Posts: 23
    edited March 2015

    patty101014, my chemo ended on 2/24/15 and my surgery was scheduled for 4/17/15. I spoke to my MO about it and he said he thought my surgery was too far out. I talked to my BS and PS and they both agreed to move it up to 3/25/15. I had a PetScan this past Monday and one of my axillary nodes is still showing that it is positive for cancer. I think I made the right decision by pressing my MO. The sooner I have my surgery the sooner I will know the cancer is gone. It's worth the discussion. I should mention I am triple negative, stage III c, grade 3. I will be having 5/6 weeks of RADS. Hugs, Kathy

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  • patty101014
    patty101014 Member Posts: 53
    edited March 2015

    thank you Kathy! I see my MO on Wednesday for my one mnth follow up. I miss her, as strange as that sounds.

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  • Redporchlady
    Redporchlady Member Posts: 113
    edited March 2015

    I started chemo October 7th, finished chemo March 6th and have surgery April 7th.  The biggest reason for the 1 month delay to surgery is to let my body recover from 5 months of chemo.  I am looking forward to the break.  My white blood counts are still really low so my ONC wants me to stay away from infections until surgery.  Good luck!

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  • Valentine99
    Valentine99 Member Posts: 75
    edited March 2015

    I finished chemo on Feb. 4 and will have surgery March 25. It will be an 8 week gap. I had the SAME exact concerns as you, and voiced them to my surgeon and my MO. They both told me it doesn't work that way and it will be fine. After other conversations with them, I am ok with the delay, just antsy to get it done now that it is getting close. But I was also on DD chemo, and it is hard on your body so it needs time to recover.

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  • patty101014
    patty101014 Member Posts: 53
    edited March 2015

    thanks for your replies. I talked with my MO in Wednesday and she also said that I shouldn't be concerned with the delay. I am trying to look at the extra time as an opportunity to get stronger before surger

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  • MJS1266
    MJS1266 Member Posts: 222
    edited March 2015

    I finished chemo March 3 and am scheduled for Surgery on the same day April 6. I was comfortable with a 5 week delay especially as a Mammogram only showed the clip and the ultrasound showed no abnormal lymph nodes. Of course, we won't know if there is any cancer left until after surgery but I took that as a good sign. I used the break to take a small vacation and rest and recuperate. I feel so much better, I don't know if it is physical or psychological but I'll take it.

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