Newly diagnosed breast cancer

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Photobuff
Photobuff Member Posts: 17
edited November 2019 in Waiting for Test Results

I am a newbie and looking for information on how long it takes to get results from a lumpectomy and axillary node dissection. I had my lumpectomy on September 24th for infiltrating ductal carcinoma, poorly differentiated and I am anxious to hear if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. Any help on knowledge of the time frame for these test results would be greatly appreciated. I do not see the surgeon again until October 4.

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  • OnTarget
    OnTarget Member Posts: 447
    edited September 2019

    It took a week after my BMX. My surgeon called me with the results, and then went over them again when I saw her a few weeks later.

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  • Photobuff
    Photobuff Member Posts: 17
    edited September 2019

    Thanks so much for the quick response. It will be a week tomorrow so perhaps I will hear something soon.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited September 2019

    Dear Photobuff,

    Welcome to the BCO community. We are sorry for your breast cancer diagnosis but so glad that you reached out to our members for support. We hope that you will stay connected here and benefit from all the valuable information and shared experience that others can provide. There is another forum called For those who are diagnosed and waiting for results and another called Just Diagnosed. You may want to review some of their topics for other tips and helpful information. Let us know if we can help you with navigating your way around.

    The Mods

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  • Yogatyme
    Yogatyme Member Posts: 2,349
    edited September 2019

    it took 1 week to get my results.


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  • Photobuff
    Photobuff Member Posts: 17
    edited September 2019

    Thank you for the welcome. I think this forum will be a huge source of information from what I am reading already.

    Photobuff


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  • Photobuff
    Photobuff Member Posts: 17
    edited September 2019

    Wow, this forum is awesome and I appreciate all the quick responses. It is a day shy of a week since I had my lumpectomy and lymph node dissection so fingers crossed I hear in the next day or so. As I am sure you all know, I am anxious to hear the results as I have been told the outcome of the lymph nodes being positive or not will trigger more aggressive therapy. I am told radiation is a definite but if lymph nodes are positive I will have to have chemo as well.

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  • MassGirl55
    MassGirl55 Member Posts: 29
    edited September 2019

    Hi Photobuff,

    I'm just starting this journey, diagnosed today with DCIS and "something" in the right breast. Just jumping in to wish you luck and I hope results are soon...the waiting and not knowing is so stressful.


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  • Scrafgal
    Scrafgal Member Posts: 631
    edited September 2019

    Photobuff, While you are waiting for your results, you might enjoy the beautiful photos from some of our members. Here is one of my favorite threads to visit: A Retreat for Peaceful Contemplation....assuming you are a photo buff!

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/102/topic...

    Best wishes to you on your journey with treatment.


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  • AliceBastable
    AliceBastable Member Posts: 3,461
    edited October 2019

    Node involvement does not necessarily mean chemo. That would depend on your oncotype score. I had micromets in one node and my MO was getting ready to order a port placement when the oncotype score came back. It was 17, so I did not need chemo after all. I think it's three nodes or under for the "not necessarily chemo" thinking. My radiation changed from a projected 22 sessions to 33, with the axilla and clavicle also getting zapped.

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  • HopeWins
    HopeWins Member Posts: 181
    edited October 2019

    5 days after lumpectomy but 12 days after bmx and snb, (including Labor Day holiday) for me. The waiting is brutal. I think it varies with 2w being on the long side.

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  • ctmbsikia
    ctmbsikia Member Posts: 1,095
    edited October 2019

    Alice, Hi! I am also a 17 oncotype and 1 micromet.

    I feel for you all waiting. I had 2 sentinel nodes tested during my surgery. With the 1st one being positive, they took a 2nd and that one was negative so no auxiliary nodes were taken out and they told me this as soon as I woke up. I suppose if the aux nodes had to go, then I would have waited for pathology. If it gets too much and you can't wait to the 4th, call them. Wishing you luck!

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  • Photobuff
    Photobuff Member Posts: 17
    edited October 2019

    Thank you so much. I wish you all the best on your journey as well. Stay positive, stay strong and know that there is definitely a ton of women here backing you. I see the surgeon today so fingers and toes are crossed for negative lymph nodes.

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  • Photobuff
    Photobuff Member Posts: 17
    edited October 2019

    Thank you so much. I did try to call but the pathology was not ready, however, I do see the surgeon today so praying the lymph nodes are negative. The biopsy showed equivocal HER-2/neu so they were not really sure and are waiting for the pathology on the larger lumpectomy specimen which should tell the tale. I think the waiting is the hardest part. I would rather know where I am going with this and hopefully I will today. I truly appreciate your support and I am overwhelmed by all the women who are willing to share their journey with me.


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  • MassGirl55
    MassGirl55 Member Posts: 29
    edited October 2019

    Good luck Photobuff. I was just diagnosed with DCIS (left) and ALH (right). I meet with the surgeon on Tuesday and the following Monday with a surgeon from a different hospital for a 2nd opinion. The current plan is DCIS surgery, radiation and meds. For the ALH there will only be surgery. I'm not crazy about radiation so fingers are crossed that I'll be a candidate for brachytherapy.

    Keep us posted and I hope today was good news!

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  • Photobuff
    Photobuff Member Posts: 17
    edited November 2019

    I am sorry I am just responding now, MassGirl55. Thank you for the well wishes and I would like to wish you luck as well. I have had my lumpectomy and unfortunately lymph nodes were not obtained despite and axillary dissection which was apparently highly unusual. Instead of going back in and doing more invasive surgery a CT was done of breast, chest and pelvis to see if there were any enlarged lymph nodes. News from this was good. No metastatic spread to any organs and no enlarged lymph nodes. Some additional testing was done on the breast tumour to get a HER-2/neu status (called HER-2 FISH) and the results came back negative for HER-2/neu which was excellent news (no Herceptin needed). However, a Ki-67 test was done to determine how fast the cancer cells multiple and it came back high. It was decided that because of the high grade of the tumour and the Ki-67 status chemo and radiation would be necessary. I was hoping for no chemo and only rads but unfortunately that is not the best treatment option. I started chemo last Thursday and cannot believe how much this has depleted my energy. My oncology team have been amazing in the care provided and have jumped on every symptom that has occurred. The worst being a powerful brain crushing headache post treatment which they attributed to infusion being perhaps a little to fast and so will slow this down on next treatment. I hope that by now you have had your surgery and that all went well. Good luck with your treatment. Fingers crossed for you that you are a candidate for brachytherapy.


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