Is this normal??

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etnasgrl
etnasgrl Member Posts: 650
edited November 2015 in Just Diagnosed

I'm sure that it is, but I guess I'm looking for some reassurance.....

I saw my surgical oncologist this Monday. (I was diagnosed last Thursday.)
During that appointment, she took blood to send off for genetic testing. The results will determine my treatment. (She told me that it can take 2 weeks for the results.) She also told me that they will schedule me to go in for a breast MRI in the meantime, while we wait on the results, and will be in touch, to let me know when and where to go for that.
I asked the nurse about the breast MRI and she explained that they will contact my insurance and work everything out with them, then contact me to get the MRI scheduled. Okay, sounds good.

1) Today is Wednesday. Should I have heard something about the MRI by now? Or am I being very impatient? (Which is always a possibility, I'm not the most patient person!)
2) Is it normal to just wait? I waited for the results of the screening mammogram, waited for the results of the ultrasound, waited for the results of the biopsy, and now waiting once again to determine course of treatment.
Waiting makes me nervous! My mind is convinced that the longer I wait, the larger this cancer is going to grow inside me. My oncologist assured me that this was caught at Stage 1/Grade 1.....but isn't waiting and waiting bad? Obviously, I know that the cancer is not going to balloon out of control overnight, but sitting around doing absolutely nothing is horrible and making my mind think all sorts of scary thoughts!

Tomorrow is Thursday and I plan on contacting my oncologist's office to inquire about my breast MRI and what needs to happen. Other than that, is all this waiting normal??

Someone PLEASE tell me that I'm not going to go insane!

Loopy


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  • LisaAlissa
    LisaAlissa Member Posts: 1,092
    edited November 2015

    Yes, what you're describing is normal. The various modalities used to scan breasts (mammography, ultrasound, MRI, etc.) each find some things better than others. MRIs are one of the more expensive, and insurance companies often won't approve an MRI for coverage until they see a diagnosis based on a biopsy. So they typically require that for approval of each new test that the "prior" ones have been done and the new test is still required.

    So now you've been diagnosed via biopsy. But surgeons often want to see what else an MRI might show before they do surgery...so being sent for an MRI after diagnosis-via-biospy is absolutely normal.

    Same with genetic testing. To get insurance coverage, you need to meet your insurance company's criteria for covered testing. Usually includes age at diagnosis, whether there are other relatives or other factors they consider relevant.

    So the waiting for the MRI is absolutely normal. And waiting even longer before surgery is considered routine and not a problem. (I remember being told that my BC had probably been developing for 7-10 years or more, so a wait of weeks (or even months!) was unlikely to affect your final results.) You should, of course, consult your own medical team if you're concerned about the waiting time.

    HTH,

    LisaAlissa

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  • art15
    art15 Member Posts: 66
    edited November 2015

    et- try to stay calm, all the insurance approvals take a few days (if your primary has good connections) if you are Stage 1, Grade1, many on this forum will assure you a week at your stage is not going to go out of control, in fact, it takes 7 years to get to that stage, you WILL be ok, just write down all your telephone conversations with doctors and what they say so you have some kind of timeline to refer to would be a good idea... keep everyone posted...

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  • etnasgrl
    etnasgrl Member Posts: 650
    edited November 2015

    Thank you both for the reassurance! I am not the most patient person under normal circumstances, so you can imagine how patient I am right now, LOL!
    I need to just relax.

    Smile

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  • Beatmon
    Beatmon Member Posts: 1,562
    edited November 2015

    And you can also call your insurance company. Sometimes you find the order got dropped and never sent for approval!

    Good luck

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  • etnasgrl
    etnasgrl Member Posts: 650
    edited November 2015

    It figures.....not 10 minutes after posting this, I got 3 phone calls back to back.
    1) Plastic surgeon
    2) Breast MRI
    3) Surgical Oncologist
    Appointments have been made for all three, next week will be BUSY! Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, but I'm THRILLED that things are moving.

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  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited November 2015

    I will say this to you. You have a low grade, small tumor. I know you are scared. But you are, at first glance, not in a bad place relatively speaking. You have some time. Don't rush to get your surgery. Do your research. The MRI will tell you a lot more, but if you have no positive lymph nodes, you likely won't need chemo, which is great! Are you pre or post menopausal? May I ask how old you are?You will probably take hormone blockers.

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  • etnasgrl
    etnasgrl Member Posts: 650
    edited November 2015

    My surgical oncologist already told me that she doesn't believe chemo is needed. (At least with the info that we currently have.)
    I am 41 and my mother was 42 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, which is the reason why she wanted genetic testing done.
    From the moment they drew blood for the genetic testing, I've been praying that it comes back negative. If it's negative, I will need a lumpectomy, followed by radiation therapy.
    If positive, I will need a double mastectomy, with reconstruction surgery. I do NOT want a double mastectomy!

    And yes, the oncologist already told me that I will be on Tamoxifen for at least 5 years.
    I am pre-menopausal.

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  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited November 2015

    Sounds like you are on the right track. I wish you all the best!

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  • msphil
    msphil Member Posts: 1,536
    edited November 2015

    yes sweetie it is normal i know the anxiety is driving u crazy but hang in there come back here with us ask questions ease ur mind. msphil (idc stage2 0\3 nodes Lmast chemo rads n 5 yrs on tamoxifen 21 yr Survivor Praise GOD)

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  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited November 2015

    Etnasgirl- make sure to ask about the oncotype dx test. For early stage, hormone positive BC, it's a very important factor in determining whether to chemo or no. I had an under 2 cm tumor, no node involvement, and clean margins. It was only the oncotype, which came back fairly high, that recommended chemo. My surgeon had said no chemo. But in the end, it's the MO's (medical oncologist) department. I'm not saying it to scare you or be a downer. It's a fairly new test, and sometimes the surgeons aren't as current on the MO side. It may be the Surgical Oncologist said that you probably wouldn't need it because the grade was low. I would still want the test done, however. You don't have to present yourself for this test. They just rake a piece if tissue from the biopsy or surgery, preferably surgery. There are several good articles here on bco about the Oncotype dx test. And since any tissue taken from you will be stored, it can ordered after the fact. Best of luck. And hugs.


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