Worried about test results and timeline.

Hi Eric - I am not aware of your mom's history and previous posts... From what I gather it sounds like you met with the surgeon Monday and surgery could be scheduled within the next few weeks or so after you get more info back. Are you only waiting on the genetic testing results? Honestly this is not an unusual time frame at all. I was diagnosed July 21, had my meeting with the first surgeon the end of that week, a second opinion a couple weeks after that and surgery maybe 2 weeks after that. Since I opted for bilateral mastectomy and they were doing a sentinel lymph node biopsy as part of that there was no need to wait for genetic testing results.

Depending on how your mom's genetic testing results turn out it could influence the surgery (type of) decision so it makes sense to wait, esp. if she might want lumpectomy vs. the recommended mastectomy. Also with Grade 1 - it is lower grade so even less rush. I am not well versed in ILC so others can speak to that though rarely will even a month make a difference.... truly.... If you and your mom would be comfortable getting a second opinion now is the time and even if that makes the wait for surgery extend another week or two, meaning a month from now all should be well. I went with my second opinion as my surgeon so not only waited for the appointment with her though also another 2 weeks until her next surgery opening.

This sounds like a normal timeline. I've heard oncologists say breast cancer is urgent but not an emergency.

Early stage breast cancer is often completely curable. Grade 1 is a very good sign because it means it's growing relatively slowly. What sort of test are they proposing for the lymph nodes? usually that is done *during* surgery, when sentinel lymph nodes are surgically removed and examined for signs of spread. But they could be recommending a chest & abdomen CT or MRI to have a look at the lympeh nodes through imaging instead. Is that the plan?

What size is the ILC component? That + lymph nodes status will determine stage, and then that will go into the decision making process to determine the type of treatment she will need after.

The genetic tests probably won't change her treatment plans much. Most of us have no identified genetic cause and no family history. (that's one of the breast cancer myths..).

Has she decided on which surgery she's preferring? Have they booked the surgery date yet? I think it would be ok to book it now & then if something odd comes on the tests, it can be changed or moved but might as well book.

Hi Eric. It is a very common timeline! Surgery decisions can change with the genetic information, so scheduling typically isn't done until after that is back. Or if someone is having any reconstruction or combined procedure, multiple surgeons might need to be scheduled, so that can put things off a bit.

Stage is not usually determined until after surgery. But as has been noted and you already know, grade 1 implies slower growth and less aggressive. Take some comfort from that. Because of her HR+ type, there are multiple treatment avenues, and you'll get more information about those soon, too.

Waiting for the treatment plan is very hard. Once that's in place, a lot of this gets easier.