Just Diagnosed, Is it ok to wait on BMX until January?

I wouldn't think it would be a problem to wait until January, especially with DCIS. I found the lump in my left breast at the end of February and didn't have the BMX until June 1st.

That is interesting - I had stage II ILC already diagnosed at partial mastectomy (lumpectomy) with unclean margins and my BMX with ALND was scheduled almost 2 months later... no treatment in between... no rush at Dana Farber Maybe your DCIS is a higher grade? (low - Grade 1 here) I believe that now many women are offered neoadjuvant hormone therapy as well? So they could offer that in the interim? It's difficult to know when the doctors are considering their own expediencies... Second opinions are a widely accepted practice and an extremely valuable tool in decision making, but the BS and MO at our local hospital did rush things hoping to keep me there. I would seek a second opinion!

Also, I believe that the physical recovery from BMX and the emotional turbulence will affect your Holidays if you proceed immediately... I did grieve the loss of my breasts... Maybe the schedule is open around the Holidays because others are trying to avoid that time? I had initial surgery and then re-excision in December, but my children are college rowers and left for training after a brief visit... Honestly, I was relieved to have them gone to spare them the worries during my recoveries... However, I would have enjoyed the distraction and encouragement of their presence too! It is so difficult to weigh these things... However, you want to live as long a life as possible -- ask your MO many direct questions and listen carefully (take notes) to the answers....

Best

I ended up holding off a couple of weeks just due to a vacation of my BS and myself as well. I first got a diagnosis 1st week of June but somehow it was really August till I got clear margins (I did 3 lumpies so no mastectomy). My BS actually told me I could take time to think things over a bit, she encouraged me to do second opinions and I did for my MO and for the RO. Interesting as I did not chose her suggest radiation center.

This is a very important decision so second opinion and some thinking time are completely rational

Good luck and sure all well end up well for you, hey, I am 7 years clean!

JerseyRenee, I am glad that you are getting assistance. The stress of navigating the unknowns can be overwhelming. I hope you are able to enjoy the holidays in any case. Life needs to be lived Best wishes.

Glad you were able to get support for delaying your surgery.

I just wanted to chime in that I had IDC and at the time they thought it was aggressive grade 3 (got downgraded to 2 after surgery).. and I waited 2 months for my PS and BS to be able to coordinate their schedules to work together. It was my choice, but I really wanted these two. My mom had a hard time with it..but I'm really glad I did because it gave me time to wrap my head around the "big C", do more research, up my game with diet and exercise, etc.. so that when I went in I was in my best mental and physical shape for surgery and I truly believe it helped me have a more successful and speedy recovery. I also even had time to fly down to Phoenix and visit a dear friend that I had planned but would have had to cancel.

Have a wonderful holiday with your family.

My BS didn’t rush me in the least. I had my suspicious mammo report Aug. 18, diagnostic mammo & u/s Aug. 24, biopsy Sep. 8--due to an upcoming trip Aug. 25-Sep. 7, dx Sep. 9, and the first regular date my BS had open was Oct. 9. Because *I* wanted surgery sooner (as well as treatment over in time to take a cruise we’d booked for the week before Christmas), she was able to trade OR time with a colleague in order to operate on Sep. 23. And my tumor was IDC, not DCIS.

The thick of the holidays are an unpopular time for surgery--for both patients and most surgeons. For patients, it’s because nobody wants to ruin their holidays unless it’s an emergency. BC surgery is rarely an emergency, certainly not with DCIS of intermediate grade. And my BS and MO also said that they prefer no more than a 2-month window between surgery and starting adjuvant therapy. You’ll need a month to heal from surgery--maybe longer with BMX. It’s a major decision with not just psychological implications, but requiring thorough and careful planning on your part when it comes to reconstruction and aftercare. You are wise to proceed with “all deliberate speed,” as the Supreme Court once said. Don’t waste time, but don’t be so hasty that you fail to adequately plan or make a decision with which you are not at peace.