Wait time from diagnosis to surgery

Forgot to mention - it's Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.

cathd @cathd
I understand the anxiety over wait time. I did 6 months of a hormone therapy to shrink tumor before surgery and I was so ready to get it out of me. I was stage 2, positive lymph nodes.

You will know more once meet with surgeon. Ask how aggressive cancer is and if it will grow. while waiting.

I took time before surgery to improve my health and prepare. I increased my exercising, got misc things taken care of, etc., so after surgery those things were done and could concentrate on getting better. And with holidays approaching you will be surprised how fast time goes. If surgery is not till Jan, enjoy holidays.

Laurie

I had breast surgery and I had to wait 7 weeks. I was upset but my cancer was 12mm and it did not involve lymph nodes. My docs did a lumpectomy and did not have me have radiation nor hormone blocker. Only complication is a seroma from biopsy of lymph nodes. I chose to aspirate seroma instead of going back to surgery. I am older and had implants put back in. My score was 16 and my docs said I had an 8% chance of cancer coming back so I did not have a mastectomy or take pills or do radiation. I am thin and pills could cause osteoporosis per oncologist.

Sending lots of hugs and with the node thickening (not sure size of tumor or your age) I would want to be seen earlier. Are there other breast surgeons you can meet with?

Yes, I was diagnosed with a 4 mm tumor in my right breast January 7th - they called it 'teeny tiny'. I am 79 and they booked me for surgery at the end of February. I also had Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. (My surgeon told me they take this out as a precaution as it's not cancer, but it could turn into it)? Then they cancelled and I finally had my surgery on March 7th. I decided at the time it must not be that serious, as they left it so long. Odd really how that gave me hope? I had the Lumpectomy, and the tumor was 2 mm before surgery due to taking some out during the Biopsy earlier. I had clean margins and no lymph node involvement. As it was small, they told me I did not qualify for any Chemo. Great! But they wanted me to take the Arimidex pill, possibly have 5 - 10 days of radiation, but left that decision up to me. I declined that but tried the Pill which made me so woozy I knew I could not drive my car. What to do? So, I stopped taking the pill. (By the way, I had no Seroma, because I was very lucky to have a top-rated surgeon). But she told me if I had it would go away in time, not that much of a problem apparently? Because I am not having any of the other therapies, I am having two years of checkups instead. Every 6 months I will have a Mammogram on my right breast and every year a Mammogram on both breasts. I will be checked up every 6 months by my surgeon and also a medical oncologist. We all have to make our own decisions as to what to do and it varies for each individual person, due to our age and what stage the cancer was at and so forth.

Hi Cathd, I had same diagnosis & I took first available appts for 2nd mmgr/ ultrasound, biopsy etc. & mine was caught early on my regular mammogram. I was diagnosed on 9/15 & was able to see surgeon & then schedule surgery on 10/10. The key thing is you want a good doctor/ medical team. I had read a lot of information & read it changes every 180 days. I was fortunate that my surgeon uses 3 hospitals & I again asked for 1st available. One of the key questions is how big is the cancer & does doctor prioritize on size vs first in? A friend of mine had same dx, had 2 masses, was just able to have her surgery this week. Have a conversation with your doctor as you need a team you are comfortable with. You have the right for a 2nd opinion if you feel that is right for you. My prayers are with you & your family.

NIH says--Optimal times from diagnosis are < 90 days for surgery, < 120 days for chemotherapy, and, where chemotherapy is administered, < 365 days for radiotherapy.
I gather that although it is important to treat in a timely manner speed isn't of the essence in the way it would be for something like appendicitis. Waiting is hard though--all the best to everyone in that situation.

All did not have OR available for two months. I had surgery and now just dealing with a reoccurring seroma. Do you know anyone that has that problem and what did they do about it? I keep having it aspirated and less comes out everything.

Thanks to all of you for your thoughtful responses.
The Day I posted my question was after I had called the nurse navigator to ask for a ballpark date for surgery - trying to schedule around it, etc. - and was alarmed when I found out the wait time. However after thinking about it, and as Laurie said above, taking time to prepare would be nice. On the other hand, I don't want to wait until I have no options regarding oncology.
I think you have all given me good advice and I will know better how to proceed after I talk with the surgeon next Thursday. She is with the hospital where I prefer to be treated - but there are more timely options available at other hospitals as well.
Blessings to all of you!

Thank you . I appreciate this as someone trying to lose weight due to blood clot scare.