What is the average time between surgery and starting chemo?

Options
Help4Sis
Help4Sis Member Posts: 53
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi, all. Have a sister who was newly diagnosed and making decisions re: surgery. What is the average wait time between the surgery and the start of chemo? Thanks.

Btw...I am so glad that I found this site. What a wealth of knowledge and support.

Linda

Comments

  • Jean 0609
    Jean 0609 Member Posts: 2,462
    #2
    Options
    Welcome Linda
    As you probably have read, everyone is different. I had my mastectomy, 13 lymph nodes removed & reconstruction, on May 4, 2010. It took me a while to get an appointment with my Oncologist. I finally seen her on June 17, 2010 and had my first chemo treatment on June 23, 2010. I had no idea I needed an oncologist, this was all new to me. It wasn't until I seen my breast surgeon for my post-op exam he asked me if I had one. He is a good surgeon, came highly recommended by quite a few, but a few things like this really irritated me. I wished that I would have found this site a lot sooner, and would have learned a lot before I experienced them first hand. Good look to your sister and keep posting. Hugs, Jean
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #3
    Options
    There is no 'average'
    There really is no 'average'. We are all unique. Our individaul cancers are at different stages when DX'd and are different types requireing different protocols. For some of us (including me) - first chemo (19 days after dx'd) was before surgery. For me, I had A/C before surgery and 2 weeks after the last A/C, I had a mod. rad. mast.. 3 weeks after surgery I started 12 weekly Taxol. A week after the last Taxol, I started 25 daily rads and started Femara a week after starting rads.

    We're all different and special!

    Susan
  • Help4Sis
    Help4Sis Member Posts: 53
    #4
    Options
    Rague said:

    There is no 'average'
    There really is no 'average'. We are all unique. Our individaul cancers are at different stages when DX'd and are different types requireing different protocols. For some of us (including me) - first chemo (19 days after dx'd) was before surgery. For me, I had A/C before surgery and 2 weeks after the last A/C, I had a mod. rad. mast.. 3 weeks after surgery I started 12 weekly Taxol. A week after the last Taxol, I started 25 daily rads and started Femara a week after starting rads.

    We're all different and special!

    Susan

    Thanks
    Thanks for your replies! I don't doubt that you are all different and special!!!! As my sister will be having surgery away from home, we will make sure that one of her appts back to surgeon is worked around an onc. appt too.

    Linda
  • Hubby
    Hubby Member Posts: 325
    #5
    Options
    Everyone is Different
    It will depend on the tumor, the doctor and your sister. My wife was nine weeks from surgery until chemo started, which she thought was too long, and her oncologist thought was starting to get too long. But the pathology had to be redone, an Oncotype test for the tumor and we wanted a second opinion; so things got delayed.

    Both her 1st and 2nd opinion oncologists would have wanted her to start at about 4 weeks after her lumpectomy had there been no issues.

    Sorry for your sister's diagnosis/

    Bob
  • jo jo
    jo jo Member Posts: 1,175
    #6
    Options
    Welcome Linda
    I think thats
    Welcome Linda
    I think thats great that your here for your sister, shes lucky to have you!
    Everyone is different...i had my surgery about thanksgiving and they wanted me to start chemo 3 weeks later but it was delayed till mid January due to infections.
  • cindycflynn
    cindycflynn Member Posts: 1,132 Member
    #7
    Options
    Linda
    So glad you found this site to help your sister - you are a wonderful sister for doing that!

    My chemo started about 2 months after my lumpectomy. For me, part of it was waiting for the results of the Oncotype DX test to make the decision as to whether I would even do the chemo.

    Best wishes to you and your sister.

    Cindy
  • Pinkpower
    Pinkpower Member Posts: 437
    #8
    Options
    Sure hope that with all our
    Sure hope that with all our personal experience we can all help you, help your sis thru this difficult time. In my case stage II, HER2, E&P positive, after my lumpectomy, I met with the oncologist about 2wks after which he already had all the results frm the lab and the surgery. I started chemo 1 month after surgery. Taxotere, Carboplatin, Herceptin.
    Lupe
  • Help4Sis
    Help4Sis Member Posts: 53
    #9
    Options
    cindycflynn said:

    Linda
    So glad you found this site to help your sister - you are a wonderful sister for doing that!

    My chemo started about 2 months after my lumpectomy. For me, part of it was waiting for the results of the Oncotype DX test to make the decision as to whether I would even do the chemo.

    Best wishes to you and your sister.

    Cindy

    Thanks for your replies..
    Gee... I guess there *are* a lot of variables! I guess we'll have to wait and see. She has IDC, tumor size is 1.9, *probably* having mastectomy w/implant. Obviously, we don't know yet about the nodes. She is also triple negative.

    Linda
  • Hubby
    Hubby Member Posts: 325
    #10
    Options
    Help4Sis said:

    Thanks for your replies..
    Gee... I guess there *are* a lot of variables! I guess we'll have to wait and see. She has IDC, tumor size is 1.9, *probably* having mastectomy w/implant. Obviously, we don't know yet about the nodes. She is also triple negative.

    Linda

    Triple Negative
    You should search out or someone should bump up the triple negative thread. The bad thing about tiple negative is that they can't give your sister the hormone supression drugs like Tamoxofin and the tumors tend to be more aggressive, but on the flip side triple negative responds well to chemo. It's a lot to digest and learn in a short time. The more you know, the more you can help your sister through this.

    Bob
  • MAJW
    MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member
    #11
    Options
    TIME FRAME
    Linda, I had my lumptectomy on May 19,2009 and started chemo on June 15.......I wish your sister the best.....and she's lucky to have a caring, concerned sister like you.......

    Peace be with all of you
    Nancy
  • MyTurnNow
    MyTurnNow Member Posts: 2,686 Member
    #12
    Options
    Welcome, Linda. You are a
    Welcome, Linda. You are a wonderful sister to be researching and gathering information. Like some of my sisters have said, the timeframe really depends on the bc type. I had IDC and had a lumpectomy on 7/7 and began chemo on 8/15 last year. Good luck and continue to ask questions and one of us will be along to share our experience and also to offer support and encouragement. Take care.
  • Help4Sis
    Help4Sis Member Posts: 53
    #13
    Options
    MyTurnNow said:

    Welcome, Linda. You are a
    Welcome, Linda. You are a wonderful sister to be researching and gathering information. Like some of my sisters have said, the timeframe really depends on the bc type. I had IDC and had a lumpectomy on 7/7 and began chemo on 8/15 last year. Good luck and continue to ask questions and one of us will be along to share our experience and also to offer support and encouragement. Take care.

    Thanks
    Thanks for all the responses... I see that it is individual, but, I have an idea now... I will check out the triple negative thread(s) tonight.

    I can tell that I will be spending a lot of time here in the coming weeks/months!

    Linda
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #14
    Options
    Suggestion -
    get a little notebook or steno pad and write down all the questions your sister and you have. Take it with ya'll to the next appt and ask those questions and write down the responses.

    Susan
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #15
    Options
    Rague said:

    Suggestion -
    get a little notebook or steno pad and write down all the questions your sister and you have. Take it with ya'll to the next appt and ask those questions and write down the responses.

    Susan

    I was told 3 weeks. I
    I was told 3 weeks. I started about a month later. was given time to bring my daughter to college so nice for me. (her first year)
  • cahjah75
    cahjah75 Member Posts: 2,631
    #16
    Options
    How nice to help your sister prepare.
    Linda I had bilateral mastectomy June 22. I have Stage 2, Nuclear grade II/III and I was ER & PR+ and HER2-. I met my oncologist July 19 and my chemo is starting August 10. So, yes we are all different. Although I'm the oldest of 4 girls I'm the 3rd to get bc. Great suggestion about writing down questions. I took questions every time. My daughter went with me to meet the surgeon when I first found out I had bc. It helps. Good luck. I see my surgeon tomorrow with list in hand:)
    Char
  • Heatherbelle
    Heatherbelle Member Posts: 1,226 Member
    #17
    Options
    Hi Linda -your sister's
    Hi Linda -your sister's diagnosis sounds alot like mine. IDC in my right breast, also triple negative. I had a bilateral mastectomy 11 days ago (also expanders put in for reconstruction), today I had surgery to get my chemo port placed, and I start chemo August 4th, little over a week. I'm glad you found this site too, it is so informative and full of wonderful people. Sounds like you're a great sister :) I'm sure she appreciates you!
    Best wishes to your sister & big hugs to you both!
    :) Heather

Discussion Boards