We are not happy.

hello I'm Tammy I was briefed reading your post, not that we have the same thing going on. I would like to speak with somebody who knows more than I. I've had a lumpectomy I've done chemo and radiation, we're talking about a double mastectomy. Just wanted someone to talk to let me have experience and the cancer breast cancer environment. If you're up and willing to talk?

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WC3 - It's so frustrating when we can't plan our treatment in the way we feel is best for us. My last experience was similar to yours, and I understand the desire to move quickly - but now on the other sIde of it, I also understand the reasoning behind what can feel like an unreasonable delay.

I had a local recurrence, TN, grade 3. Had chemo and rads the first time around, my MO and BS concurred I needed an MX this time (I reluctantly agreed). I asked to do chemo before surgery as I was caretaking my mother and needed to be mobile and available for her at that moment. That also gave me time to meet with a PS at a different facility (none local). I opted for DIEP; he told me their preference (major university hospital) was “a couple months" PFC because the immune system needs time to recover; surgery too quickly can lead to complications. Prior to my final chemo we met again to arrange everything; I asked for 6 weeks and he balked, he asked for at least 8 weeks. I argued I wanted any remnants of this aggressive second-time-around cancer out of me; he insisted 2 weeks wouldn't make a difference. We split the difference and scheduled at 7 weeks when he had an availability.

Surgery went off without a hitch, and recovery started out good. Drains came out at two weeks - and I ended up back in the hospital, twice, with an ABX-resistant superbug. I've never in my life seen a doctor blanche giving me a diagnosis; I thought it was good it wasn't MRSA, they had been hoping it would be “that easy". I spent 10 weeks recovering, returning to work far earlier than I felt ready but needed to.

Now, of course, I look back and would have done things differently, but since I can't I share this not as a scare tactic but as an experience. My PS and MO have both said my case wasn't usual or typical, but highlights why they like to wait a little while post-chemo. Everybody recovers and heals differently, and the body needs time.

It's hard to be patient, I know, but theres a fine balance between getting rid of whatever might still be lurking, and being as healthy as possible. Knowing what I know now, I would opt to wait a little while for surgery, especially if you like this surgeon. Whatever you decide,I hope your surgery is timely and complication-free.

Give the center called NOLA a Call. They can do implants but they are alsobwizards at natural tissue recon. No hard feelings at home between surgeons. Traveling was not a big deal for it (they help with all that too). Most women travel to them from all over the world literally. www.breastcenter.com

you can call Nola and ask. They will know/find out.

wc3- I didn’t have chemo, but I did have to put off recon because the ps was scheduling 3 months out and I needed the cancer out NOW. It was far more important to me to get the cancer out ASAP, I could do recon later. It worked out well for me because I ended up needing rads. I am scheduled for TE surgery in a few weeks.

I was told that 4-6 weeks after chemo is ideal for most cases. If it's important to you to stay close to that time frame and you like your BS - perhaps ask them if there's another PS they can suggest that might be able to do the surgery sooner.

Of course - there are always cases of delays for one reason or another. If a delay is needed for health reasons then that's one thing. For a busy surgeon's schedule ... IDK. You need to be comfortable with the plan.

Also - it's completely possible that the scheduler doesn't understand your situation for timing. And that the PS is not even involved with that process! You may want to alert them directly to see if they can work something out that's better.