How long between diagnosis and treatment

Nulyte, I am sorry you have to go through this! There is nothing quick about BC...It is absolutely ok to get a second opinion, don't let anyone tell you different. I was diagnosed in the beginning of March and had a BMX in mid-April. During that time I had many appointments and testing that needed to be completed before I could actually have surgery. By the time the results for my BRCA test came in ( that took 6 weeks) all other testing was complete and my treatment plan was decided surgery (BMX w/TE), chemo, & rads. Hopefully this helps, good luck to you and remember you will get thru this!

I was diagnosed in late June and had my surgery late August. I saw three different surgeons and spent a lot of time here and online researching different surgery options. At first and right after I was diagnosed, I was panicked that the tumor wasn't being removed RIGHT NOW since it was cancer, after all.

I was told that within 2 months, it wouldn't grow. I had to trust them because my mind really played tricks on me. I am grateful for the delay because I didn't go with my first choice to impulsively get a bilateral mastectomy but rather, research and weigh all my options for the tumor grade and type that I had.

After I was diagnosed, I was laid off. No health insurance. Getting new health insurance opened up my surgical options because my HMO didn't do the treatment I had done.

Spending a lot of time here really helped me between diagnosis and surgery. I also went to a breast cancer support group.

I know this can be scary and overwhelming -- I was there. You're not alone.

Sounds like you need to talk with someone else to explain why they are recommending chemo first, then surgery in your particular case. I can tell you a couple of reasons I've heard that, increasingly, they are doing chemo first, then surgery:

1. To find out (for sure) which chemo our tumor responds to. If they take out the tumor first, then do chemo, there's no way to tell if the chemo they've selected for you is really the right one for your tumor. They just have to hope for the best. If they do chemo first, then they can see if your tumor responds (getting smaller, etc.) and if not, try something else. This gives them a lot of good information about your particular tumor, and how best to prevent any distant spread.

2. Reducing the size of your tumor, makes the surgery easier on you, and may offer options that wouldn't have been available to you otherwise. Options like a smaller surgery (lumpectomy?), interoperative radiation therapy and who know what others.

Someone at your breast center knows why chemo is being suggested for you first. Is there a nurse navigator? Someone you can ask to help you find out why this recommendation is being made for you?

Best wishes,

LisaAlissa

Sounds like you no longer trust your current medical team, and you may be searching for a replacement team, not just a second opinion. Is your second opinion team someone you would consider as a primary? (it should be...) Is the second opinion with a major cancer center/NCIC-designated center of excellence for breast cancer?

You have time, but you will want to review your second opinion team,and perhaps consider a third-opinion as well.

Hang in there,

LisaAlissa

• I was diagnosed 4/20/2916. Didn't have lumpectomy until 6/16/2016 and did not start chemo until 7/25. The waiting is incredibly difficult, but pretty standard from my research.

Ocmdcat-

Welcome to BCO! We hope your treatment is going well, and that you find support in these forums when you need it most.

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