Surgery Done; Back to Waiting

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DanceSmartly
DanceSmartly Member Posts: 69
edited December 2017 in Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results

Had my lumpectomy plus sentinel node biopsy today and received my interoperative ketorolac! Surgeon said tumour appears small and he took approximately 4 lymph nodes.

Now it's back to waiting, this time for pathology results. In November my surgeon indicated that I should have the results in 2 weeks but now he is saying it could be after Christmas thanks to the holidays! Ugh!

Am doing the scheduling math and it is worrying me. I understand that if chemo is necessary, best to start within a month of surgery and definitely within two months. Now it could be a month just to get my pathology back and then who knows how long after that (hearing 2-3 weeks at best?) to get oncotype DX results. Given my clinical stage and grade (I do understand that my actual pathology may change this) I am extremely relunctant to do chemo without having confidence that it will benefit me. But if I do need it, I don't want to start it too late! Ugh, ugh, ugh!

My surgeon is supposed to refer me to my MO and he said that I will not meet her until after Christmas. Apparently she is the one who has to order the Oncotype DX. I am going to phone her office tomorrow and see if I can get her onboard to expedite that order. Hopefully I make it past her front desk...

I really appreciate all that I have learned on the forum so that I even know to be concerned about these things!

Dance

PS: I did not enjoy the injection of the radioactive material for the sentinel node biopsy. Ow!


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  • moth
    moth Member Posts: 4,800
    edited December 2017

    Hi Dance - just saying hi & I'm waiting with you. I have an appointment Jan 9 but I'm not sure if they'll have a plan for me at that appointment or if it's just a surgical post op check in.


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  • DanceSmartly
    DanceSmartly Member Posts: 69
    edited December 2017

    Hey Moth,

    I actually got my pathology back much quicker than anticipated - only 6 days! Unfortunately there was DCIS in 2 of my margins so am headed back to the hospital for a re-excision tomorrow. Am guessing the follow-up results from the re-excision will not be available until after Christmas for sure.

    Seems my earlier worries about chemo may have been unwarranted now that I have looked at the Alberta breast cancer treatment protocol - my stage, grade and negative lymph status put me in the lower risk category which doesn't even qualify for genomic testing to find out whether chemo would be of benefit, never mind chemo itself.

    Hoping you get results on 09 Jan or preferably sooner! The waiting is the absolute worst.

    Dance

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  • moth
    moth Member Posts: 4,800
    edited December 2017

    oh bummer about needing the re-excision :( But great that you're getting in there so quickly.

    Hope everything goes smoothly tomorrow and you feel ok.

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