Length of time between diagnosis and surgery

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NTS
NTS Member Posts: 20
edited February 2020 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

Not counting neoadjuvant chemotherapy - how long after your diagnosis did you have the surgery?

I'm newly diagnosed with a recurrence (or could be residual, do not know yet). I was previously diagnosed June 2017 with ER+ Her2+ Invasive stage 2A, roughly 4 CM and 1 sentinel node involved. I had neoadjuvant TCHP, 2 lumpectomies (1st one didn't have clear margins), followed by radiation. I have been having twice a year mammos & u/s, and once a year MRIs since.

I recently had my latest mammo a few weeks ago, where the mammo looked okay but the u/s showed an area suspicion. Therefore, I had a biopsy, and the biopsy confirmed cancer. I don't believe it's showing on the mammo, as I have dense breast tissue. The biopsy measured 3-4 mm, however, as I have learned that's just the amount the biopsy picked up, and it could be larger. I'm now getting ready for a bilateral mastectomy. I'm upset because they want to schedule surgery March 19th and that feels forever away. So here is the timeline:

1/30 - routine imaging
2/5 - biopsy: confirmed cancer
3/19 - proposed surgery date

All I know at the moment is what they picked up is grade 2. I don't otherwise know the makeup of it. I just met with the plastic surgeon today to go over reconstruction options. I was feeling pretty good about things but then they called to schedule, and it feels SO far out. This is fueling a bit of anxiety for me. I asked if we could do it the first week of March and was told there was no availability, and the next week the doctor is out for spring break.

I'm upset more than anything. There is confirmed invasive cancer in my body and I'm just supposed to wait a month to have it removed? I feel so out of control and, now, discouraged.

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited February 2020

    Sounds normal. It’s been there for a while, another month won’t make a difference. Most cancers are slow growing. Of course, now that you know it’s there, you want it out yesterday. Also normal. There may be a few, or a lot of tests before surgery. Normal.

    Stay away from Dr Google, he is NOT your friend.

    Try to find things to do to occupy your mind and time.

    You can do it. Keep us posted.

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited February 2020

    NTS - it would be unusual for most cancers to grow significantly in two months. Actually, you're on a pretty short turn around. I wouldn't worry about a month.

    Since your first occurrence was HER2+, do they suspect this one will be also? If so, why aren't they considering neoadjuvant chemo again before surgery?

    You said they're calling it a recurrence and not Mets, but are they scheduling a PET/CT to make sure there are no other locations in your body? I see you're planning on a BMX. I made the same decision & think it's wise, but I'd want to have more imaging before I went through that surgery to make sure cancer hadn't migrated elsewhere so the treatment plan would change.

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  • SimoneRC
    SimoneRC Member Posts: 419
    edited February 2020

    Hi NTS,

    So sorry about this latest finding.

    I had my biopsy on 2/16

    Diagnosed 2/20, also grade 2.

    Was originally scheduled for lumpectomy 3/14, but my genetic testing came back positive.

    Had bilateral mastectomy on 4/6.

    Your schedule sounds well within the norm of what I have read here of others' journeys.

    Good luck!!!


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  • NTS
    NTS Member Posts: 20
    edited February 2020

    It's very small 3-4 mm. My breast surgeon said "You've already had the chemo and radiation, I really think now you just need a completion mastectomy." My oncologist has been notified, but she just said to schedule an appointment with her once I have a surgery scheduled, so she'll see me about 3 weeks after that. I haven't been told anything about a full body scan. My surgeon did say lymph nodes appeared clear on my imaging. I imagine they are just waiting to see what kind of pathology comes out of the mastectomy.

    I do not know the makeup of this tumor. Just that it's grade 2, like the last one was. After 6 rounds of TCHP for my first diagnosis, the Her2 was very weak, but I remember being disappointed in how high the ER number still was. I did the full 18 of Herceptin though.

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  • mom2bunky
    mom2bunky Member Posts: 189
    edited February 2020

    It was around 6 weeks for me. I guess that's normal. My surgeon explained that it's not THAT fast growing and all would be okay. This is the worst time OP, I get it. Hang in there.

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