Time between surgery and chemo

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Elfmcg
Elfmcg Member Posts: 91
edited August 2017 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

Hi,

I had surgery in late June, and received my chemo start date today which is 64 days after surgery, although I cited an article I read about the benefits of starting chemo asap for her2+, I have been assured that where I'm from (not America)this is still within guidelines.

Has anyone else who had surgery first been delayed this long?

Thank

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  • Leatherette
    Leatherette Member Posts: 448
    edited August 2017

    Hi Elfmcg,

    I am her2+ and had my first chemo 5 weeks after surgery. I was more anxious about getting it started than the docs were, but they weren't waiting around, either. I'd think waiting that long won't have a noticeable effect on outcomes, but waiting was so hard for me! I wanted to start exactly 28 days after my surgery. Best of luck to you,

    L.

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  • Elfmcg
    Elfmcg Member Posts: 91
    edited August 2017

    Thanks leatherette,

    Everything seems so slow over here, I had the surgery quickly, a week and a bit after diagnosis and now this long wait, I just hope it's not to my detriment, and I've literally no control, it's just so frustrating when I'm as ready as I'm ever going to be. I'd understand if I'd to have a second surgery or there were healing issues, but there isn't

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  • VL22
    VL22 Member Posts: 851
    edited August 2017

    My chemo will be 60 days after surgery, due to the SLNB site getting infected (lucky me). I asked my team about the delay and they said all is fine - if they thought it wasn't they would hospitalize me to receive antibiotics by IV to clear the infection up faster. They said it is unnecessary to do so. I know it is so hard to wait but I truly believe that you (and me!) will not have a worse outcome because of the delay.

    I know somewhere on this site I read optimal time for chemo is 30-90 days after surgery

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  • Elfmcg
    Elfmcg Member Posts: 91
    edited August 2017

    Hi VL22,

    That sounds good, I really hope so.

    I'm sure because of complications with surgery etc, a lot of people don't start chemo straight away, so it still has to work. I have to think positively or I'll drive myself mad.


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  • NextStorm
    NextStorm Member Posts: 13
    edited August 2017

    I had to wait 5 1/2 weeks from diagnosis to surgery, and 10 weeks from surgery to first chemo. My MO doesn't like to start chemo any later than 8 weeks after surgery, but I had a long wait to get a pre-chemo CT scan. (Welcome to Canada.) :-/

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  • Elfmcg
    Elfmcg Member Posts: 91
    edited August 2017

    I got a phone call today to say my start date has been moved forward almost three weeks. Brings it to about day 54, I'm much happier about this.


    NextStorm, that's madness that waiting on a bloody scan could slow things down for you. It's so annoying.


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  • Brightness456
    Brightness456 Member Posts: 340
    edited August 2017

    This is interesting. My treatment plan is up in the air because my doctors are questioning the numbers in my biopsy, so they're starting fresh with the pathology from my surgery August 10. I'm in the process of building a new home and would prefer to wait on chemo (if I need it) until after I'm settled into the new house, which is likely sometime in October. Maybe it's possible?

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  • NextStorm
    NextStorm Member Posts: 13
    edited August 2017

    Elfmcg - It's great that your start date has been moved forward!

    NextStorm, that's madness that waiting on a bloody scan could slow things down for you. It's so annoying.

    Indeed. Especially since I have my suspicions that the reason it took so long is that someone forgot to schedule it. When I didn't hear from anyone about it for what seemed like a long time, I called to find out what was happening... Next thing I knew, they told me that my scan was scheduled for the following week. Grr.

    Oh well. Can't go back and change any of it now. And once I finally got into the system, everything went like clockwork. Aside from the initial scheduling delays, I was very happy with the care I got.


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  • wrenn
    wrenn Member Posts: 2,707
    edited August 2017

    I'm in Canada and have not found anything to be delayed because of our health care. My ultrasound and mammogram were delayed because the clerk didn't check the fax machine for a couple of days. :-) It was still not a long wait.

    They were trying to get my chemo started since I am triple neg but I was having complications from surgery. I had surgery Aug.16th and chemo Nov. 25th so a little over 3 months. Then after the first session chemo was cancelled due to complications there. Doing great 4 years later. :-)

    Glad you are getting in sooner so you don't have to worry about it.

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  • VL22
    VL22 Member Posts: 851
    edited August 2017

    Wrenn - sometimes exactly what you need comes along - for me it's your post! So great you're 4 years out. Always appreciate "old timers" continued support of the newbies - it does make a huge difference

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  • wrenn
    wrenn Member Posts: 2,707
    edited August 2017

    VL22, It's hard not to worry. After each complication popped up I worried about chemo starting too late. They kept telling me if it got too far past surgery date they wouldn't bother doing it so that gave me some hope. You also want to be well recovered from other stuff to be at your strongest when starting.

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