Surgeon's office - Slow? Is this normal?

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ayr1016
ayr1016 Member Posts: 228
edited January 2016 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

I had my 1st appointment with the surgeon last Thursday (1 week ago) and I have not heard back about scheduling a surgery, nor if they have sent the referrals to the genetic counseling or my oncologist. Is this a normal time line? My PCP and the breast center I went to for the MRI/biopsy/Mamm/Ultrasound were steadfast in getting me in. I also have additional questions for the surgeon. Should I make another appointment? I have been calling her office asking about the referrals and leaving messages since Monday. I asked if there was going to be a pre-op appointment, but they said no, not unless I have additional questions. My 1st visit resulted in a 2 and a half hour wait to see her and the office said that was semi normal. I am starting to wonder if I should get a 2nd opinion. I left her office confused (which I think can be normal) because she told me I had the option of lumpectomy or mastectomy, but it was a personal choice. I wanted to get genetic testing done before I decided. But, that will take 4-6 weeks and that is after she sends over the referral, which I am unsure if she has. I am getting nervous about waiting to get this thing out of me. There was been zero progress in getting treatment underway this week and I am getting so anxious about it. So, is this a normal type thing or no?

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  • Skittlegirl
    Skittlegirl Member Posts: 428
    edited January 2016

    My breast surgeon has been very prompt. At the first meeting he gave me his cell phone number, so texting him about referrals going through has really helped keep things moving along at the beginning. He's also double booked himself to see me for urgent-ish matters that he wanted to keep an eye on. Usually it's no more than a 20 minute wait beyond appointment time if he is running late.

    I just had my last big chemo infusion yesterday and he's already scheduled to see me on Tuesday to talk about the surgery.

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  • ChiSandy
    ChiSandy Member Posts: 12,133
    edited January 2016

    Get a second opinion if you can do so before you can have surgery. Though cancers don't spread like wildfire as once believed, time is ultimately of the essence. Most experts agree that one month is about as long as one can prudently wait between dx & surgery or neoadjuvant therapy.

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  • BrooksideVT
    BrooksideVT Member Posts: 2,211
    edited January 2016

    Yes, it is all very normal, especially your feeling of pressure to make a surgical decision while feeling frustrated at every turn with the information assembly line just not moving smoothly. Of course you have more questions! You can schedule another appointment with your surgeon, or telephone her, or email her, or all three! A second opinion is never a bad idea.

    If a mastectomy for you would include reconstruction, do keep in mind that you would also absolutely need to meet with a plastic surgeon before surgery.

    Besides the obvious surgical choices of lumpectomy plus radiation or mastecomy, you also have the option of a lumpectomy now, and, should that prove, for whatever reason, not to be the correct choice for you, you can still choose mastectomy. That, by the way, was my route. I was so torn between lumpectomy and mastectomy (one or two?), that I ultimately just had the lumpectomy, thinking I could then take my time making a final decision. As it happened, I was very happy with the lumpectomy.


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