How soon after DX for surgery?

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helplesslyhoping
helplesslyhoping Member Posts: 39
edited April 2015 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

Hello, everyone:

I was diagnosed with IDC on 4/20. I had felt a palpable tumor only a few days before that had literally appeared overnight. I have an appointment with a highly recommended surgeon (by three different people, including my obgyn) on Monday.

Because my tumor already seems to be bigger than it was even a week ago, I am so nervous that I will be waiting for an extended period of time to have my lumpectomy and nodes checked (assuming that's the course of action). Also, I am only 38, no family history of cancer and my obgyn is concerned with the seemingly aggressive nature of this tumor.

How long have you waited between surgical consult and actual surgery? Am I overreacting for feeling like I need to get this surgery asap?


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  • DayLily15
    DayLily15 Member Posts: 144
    edited April 2015

    im so sorry hoplesslyhoping, sending hugs

    i had your exact question and after reading the boards here [soooo helpful with info] it seems to be a month from Dx to surgery. mine was a month.

    i was very anxious to have mine out, so i think you feelings are normal.

    im a newbie really, others here will help you alot and they have lots of hard earned knowledge.

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  • SummerAngel
    SummerAngel Member Posts: 1,006
    edited April 2015

    I was diagnosed on April 3rd and don't even have surgery scheduled yet. It's been a bunch of tests, including a biopsy on the opposite breast today.

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

    You have to remember that not all types of BC (or stage) have the same time frame, TX plan or prognosis. Neoadjuvant chemo (before surgery) is becoming more common for more than just IBC. Until you actually see the surgeon do not assume what your TX plan will be.


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  • Sunflowercat
    Sunflowercat Member Posts: 177
    edited April 2015

    It was approximately 6 weeks between my diagnosis and my mastectomy. I was 39 at the time and had a very slow growing cancer. They figure I had it for 5 years before we discovered it. Just becuase you're young doesn't automatically mean it's aggressive. It can be, but that's not always the case and in the scheme of things a month isn't going to make a huge difference.

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  • SuzyQ42
    SuzyQ42 Member Posts: 32
    edited April 2015

    I was diagnosed on April 3rd and my surgery is scheduled for April 28th. I was diagnosed on Friday and had my first visit with my surgeon the following Tuesday. Things have moved very fast and while I'm mostly grateful, sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming.

    Sending you peace and strength.

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  • Lolis197138
    Lolis197138 Member Posts: 512
    edited April 2015

    Sorry to you had to join us here. 

    It took a month from diagnosis to surgery for me and it was only 3 weeks from the time I saw the breast surgeon. Initially the bs mentioned that I would do chemo, surgery and radiation but because of my age we went with surgery first (at the time I wanted the cancer out of my body asap) to allow time for fertility preservation. 

    Depending on your stats the doctors and you will determine the best course of action for your Dx. We all know that waiting is the worse part of this process. 

    Hugs!!

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

    I was diagnosed in June 2014 but ended up having surgery in January 2015. I ended up doing 5 months of neoadjuvant chemo before my surgery, but I'm glad I did. Given the tumor size, nodal involvement, and the fact that the cancer was triple positive, I would have had to have chemo anyway. By doing chemo first, I could see that it was effective against my cancer and I had no active cancer left at the time of my surgery.

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  • knittingPT
    knittingPT Member Posts: 156
    edited April 2015

    I had five or six weeks between diagnosis and the start of treatment. It was terrifying at the time. However, all of the testing (ultrasound, mammo, 2 biopsies, genetic testing, MRI, and PET scan) was necessary to get as much info as possible before making decisions. My treatment team told me repeatedly that they wanted all that info. I did chemo first and was glad I did. Those five months gave me time to get used to having cancer and to really research my surgical options. I also got to feel that tumor shrinking which was great psychologically! If I had decided on type of surgery right after diagnosis I would have made a decision based on fear alone. Hang in there! I know you want that cancer gone but you also need to know all about your cancer to choose treatment. And to answer your question I was diagnosed Sept 2014 and had surgery April 17 2015

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  • tjh
    tjh Member Posts: 469
    edited April 2015

    I had my mammogram on 2/3/15, more pics and ultrasound 3/6/15, biopsy 3/9, diagnosis 3/12, surgeon 3/12, PS 3/13, left masectomy with TE 3/26 and now waiting Oncodx results this Friday. I chose a short timeline after talking to the surgeons as well as my interist and dermatologist. Lumpectomy was not an option as I did not want radiation because of melanoma risk. I have no regrets about the short timeline.

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