Long wait for biopsy results

That is soooo unfortunate on both counts! You definitely have no control over the discordant portion. I'm not sure how things work in Canada though in the U.S. it is not unusual for people to call docs' offices after a reasonable waiting period just to see if results are in yet - I call it a "prompt" just in case something has been sitting on someone's desk too long.... esp. those things providers won't allow in the portal until they or a nurse speaks to the patient.

I found it helpful to do some REALLY distracting things. I had my biopsy on a Wednesday and went to a very loud, very lively concert the next night, and just kept doing as many fun things as possible. I kept that up between surgeries and further tests (it was a messy year) for the six-month medical adventure.

I'm still following your story. Hang in there. Sounds like some progress is being made & you might get results soon.

If it's not benign - & let's still hope it is! - Alberta has cancer care centers in most major cities. FWIW, ime with provincial health care, they're all on the same script. They have province wide tumor board meetings, all the protocols are province wide approved and any deviation from a protocol would require approval from someone very high up in Cancer Care. I would only switch cities if there was a machine they had in 1 place & not in another (some of the radiation treatment machines are not the same everywhere) or if there was a clinical trial that you wanted to participate in. Otherwise, go where you have support and a network and feel comfortable. I did hear Alberta had a loss of physicians this summer after some budget cutbacks so that is no doubt adding to the chaos & increasing the workloads for whoever is left.

btw, I was 1/2 way through my BSN when I got my stage 4 dx. I feel ya. I'm still bitter at having to give us school. I hope yours turns out to be a huge mistake and soon you'll be back home & studying & making drug cards late at night for clinical the next day

Redcanoe, I'm sorry.

If it's triple positive, meaning ER+/PR+ and HER2+, chemo will be recommended. HER2+ cancers are very aggressive and chemo is always recommended even for very small tumors. The good news is that thanks to chemo and Herceptin, a drug specifically HER2+ cancers, with this treatment, triple positive cancers have among the best prognosis.

Who provided you with the treatment plan? Usually with HER2+ cancers, a Medical Oncologist is involved right away, prior to surgery.

oh redcanoe, big hugs. I'm sorry to hear this. Hang in there. As Beesie says, triple + has good prognosis. Due to your age & the HER2+, I would definitely expect chemo. Good for you for getting this checked & going through all the travel etc to get it properly tested.

hugs

Redcanoe - So sorry t hear your news. Do get an MO (medical oncologist) involved right away. Surgeons cut - that's what they're trained to do. The MO usually drives the bus.

Agreed with all above HER2+ means chemo. And usually neoadjuvant chemo - so chemo before surgery. They like to shrink the tumor & kill as much as possible before surgery.

Since IDC develops from DCIS, it's very common to have IDC and DCIS together. The DCIS needs to be surgically removed but can otherwise be ignored - anything done to treat the IDC will be more than enough for the DCIS.

To MinusTwo's comment, the NCCN Treatment Guidelines, which are pretty much the gold standard, recommend neoadjuvant chemo for HER2+ cancers when the cancer is 2cm or larger in size or if there are positive nodes. I'm sure that sometimes MOs decide to go with neoadjuvant chemo in situations that don't meet the criteria but are close.

I don't have anything to add except offering moral support!

Best wishes! It's been a long wait for you. I'll be keeping you in my thoughts.