Newbie-Please help!! Wait on Surgery??
Anyway, I see surgeon this Thursday to sign consents BUT he cant schedule surgery till JUNE!! This will be over 4 months since the tumor was found and since I have it in BOTH breasts, I just don't feel comfortable waiting this long while it mets to other parts of my body.
Am I being paranoid?? Is it normal to wait this long? My cancer is actual invasive ductal and tubular on both sides.. Im losing all confidence in my surgeon and I cant sleep at night just thinking about waiting. Sorry that this is so long but Im really concerned. Anyone please help.... Thanks!
Comments
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My dx is very different and
My dx is very different and so my time line was also very different. I just want to say welcome and that I hope you find this board as helpful as I have.
What I do know is that waiting is (for me) the hardest part of this whole thing. When you see your doc on Thursday, please tell him your concerns about waiting. He may be able to provide some reassurance, he should have an idea based on your pathology if the cancer grows quickly or slowly. Or he may be able to find a way to get your surgery completed sooner (if someone else cancels or reschedules).
Please come back and let us know what the doc says.
Hugs,
Linda0 -
i hate to wait..
so sorry you have to wait...to us it seems urgent to drs they may not think so. Perhaps get a 2nd opinion! I wish I had an answer for you...I THINK I started all my BC in Jan and had my sugery April 3rd...by the time I had 2nd mammo, then biopsy etc..
I"LL check back and see how you are doing.
I just got call from my dr to have surgery next tues-week from today..(hystertomy)
I am with get it over with asap...
wishing you well...
Denise0 -
Corinna, I'm so sorry you're faced with thisGabe N Abby Mom said:My dx is very different and
My dx is very different and so my time line was also very different. I just want to say welcome and that I hope you find this board as helpful as I have.
What I do know is that waiting is (for me) the hardest part of this whole thing. When you see your doc on Thursday, please tell him your concerns about waiting. He may be able to provide some reassurance, he should have an idea based on your pathology if the cancer grows quickly or slowly. Or he may be able to find a way to get your surgery completed sooner (if someone else cancels or reschedules).
Please come back and let us know what the doc says.
Hugs,
Linda
I had invasive ductal carcinoma that my surgeon thought was in situ. Unfortunately, not only had it spread outside the duct, I also ended up having 10 positive lymph nodes. I did have some waiting to do--developed a hematoma after the biopsy, so we waited about 4 weeks until it got smaller to do the surgery.
I don't think you're over-reacting. It seems like a very long time to wait for the surgery--even if your surgeon is super-busy like mine is. Like Linda said--tell the doctor your very real concerns at your appointment and that you want to take action as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, try to stay calm (easy to say, I know) and think positive thoughts. I'm hoping you are able to move into action very soon.
Hugs, Renee0 -
Corinna, I'm so sorry you're faced with thisGabe N Abby Mom said:My dx is very different and
My dx is very different and so my time line was also very different. I just want to say welcome and that I hope you find this board as helpful as I have.
What I do know is that waiting is (for me) the hardest part of this whole thing. When you see your doc on Thursday, please tell him your concerns about waiting. He may be able to provide some reassurance, he should have an idea based on your pathology if the cancer grows quickly or slowly. Or he may be able to find a way to get your surgery completed sooner (if someone else cancels or reschedules).
Please come back and let us know what the doc says.
Hugs,
Linda
I had invasive ductal carcinoma that my surgeon thought was in situ. Unfortunately, not only had it spread outside the duct, I also ended up having 10 positive lymph nodes. I did have some waiting to do--developed a hematoma after the biopsy, so we waited about 4 weeks until it got smaller to do the surgery.
I don't think you're over-reacting. It seems like a very long time to wait for the surgery--even if your surgeon is super-busy like mine is. Like Linda said--tell the doctor your very real concerns at your appointment and that you want to take action as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, try to stay calm (easy to say, I know) and think positive thoughts. I'm hoping you are able to move into action very soon.
Hugs, Renee0 -
Get another opinion.disneyfan2008 said:i hate to wait..
so sorry you have to wait...to us it seems urgent to drs they may not think so. Perhaps get a 2nd opinion! I wish I had an answer for you...I THINK I started all my BC in Jan and had my sugery April 3rd...by the time I had 2nd mammo, then biopsy etc..
I"LL check back and see how you are doing.
I just got call from my dr to have surgery next tues-week from today..(hystertomy)
I am with get it over with asap...
wishing you well...
Denise
You are in control of your treatment so don't sit back and let the doctors dictate without your input. I would never wait that long. I was diagnosed in Feb of 09 and my surgery was March 09. Even that seemed like forever! I wanted that tumor out!
Roseann0 -
Waiting is the worstdisneyfan2008 said:i hate to wait..
so sorry you have to wait...to us it seems urgent to drs they may not think so. Perhaps get a 2nd opinion! I wish I had an answer for you...I THINK I started all my BC in Jan and had my sugery April 3rd...by the time I had 2nd mammo, then biopsy etc..
I"LL check back and see how you are doing.
I just got call from my dr to have surgery next tues-week from today..(hystertomy)
I am with get it over with asap...
wishing you well...
Denise
I really don't know, but it does seem like a long time to wait. Do you know the grade of your tumor? June is only 3 weeks away, but don't be afraid to ask for a date before then and be sure to let the surgeon know you're worried. I hope s/he will reassure you that this timing is perfectly ok. If you don't feel good about it, ask if they can recommend someone who could do it sooner.
I had IDC (grade 2, very small, one breast) and my surgery happened about 2 weeks after diagnosis. It was scheduled 8 days after my appointment with the surgeon. I was amazed it happened so quickly. Surgery was about 6 weeks after my initial abnormal mammogram.
I know waiting is horrible. All that time to mull things over and worry about the what if's.
Wishing you a good appointment with the surgeon and early surgery date. Please take someone with you. Docs are used to this and also used to being asked every questions conceivable.
Suzanne0 -
Corrinaroseann4 said:Get another opinion.
You are in control of your treatment so don't sit back and let the doctors dictate without your input. I would never wait that long. I was diagnosed in Feb of 09 and my surgery was March 09. Even that seemed like forever! I wanted that tumor out!
Roseann
To me personally it does sound like a long wait. Were you not referred to an Oncologist as well? If so what is their opinion? My Dx came in late October, but I felt the lump a month prior it was Stage 3 IDC no lymph nodes. I was first referred to a breast specialist whom then set me up with my oncologist. My route was chemo first followed by surgery. The tumor was finally extracted on Feb. 28th, but I had four rounds of chemo waging it's battle inside of me prior to that. It shrunk considerably and I then had a skin sparring mastectomy.
As you can see we are all going to have different treatment plans and schedules. The others are right, express your concerns with your doctor and it might just all iron itself out. Let us know what you find out, we are here for you.
Hugs,
Lorrie0 -
Thanks everyone for your advice!roseann4 said:Get another opinion.
You are in control of your treatment so don't sit back and let the doctors dictate without your input. I would never wait that long. I was diagnosed in Feb of 09 and my surgery was March 09. Even that seemed like forever! I wanted that tumor out!
Roseann
My cancer is definitely past the duct and I have a lymph node that can be felt under L arm. Cancer in other breast is also past tubule. Have path report from both.
I was working part-time and without insurance when all this started (figures...) so I had to get on Medicaid. I'm happy I have ins. now but have a feeling that I am at the bottom of the food chain so to speak because it is government ins. and they don't reimburse as well.
First it took forever to have my biopsy done. Got a huge bruise that covered most of my breast that just now -2 months later - is fading. Then my lab reports showed I was anemic and nobody called me to take care of that to prepare for surgery. If I was not an RN and sort of used to this, I would not have even known what my lab results meant. Now the Dr. is on vacation next week, booked after that and holiday the next weekend. Really makes me feel special... not.
Anyway, the Medicaid will only cover so much and only allow me to see certain Drs. I thought about a 2nd opinion but it takes months to get that approved. Maybe I will start the ball rolling anyway. Sorry I'm venting to you all, but you are empowering me to do what I need to do and I really appreciate that!
Love you all and I don't even know you!! 0 -
It always amazes me when
It always amazes me when some have so long between DX and TX. I saw my PA in the morning, had a mamogram that afternoon and a sonogram and biopsy. PA and the Radiologist were sure it would come back positive (which it did the next morning). In the next 17 days I saw Surgeon, had gobs of tests/scans and another biopsy of an area that showed 'hot' along my jaw on one of the scans (but there was nothing there) saw Rad Dr and Chemo Dr and had port put in and started Chemo.
Like Linda (Gabe N Abby Mom) my DX (IBC) is different than yours and it is a very aggressive form that doesn't allow for time to play around. I didn't have any genetic testing done - none of my Drs thought there was a reason to do any as IBC in not known to be genetic (at least not known at the time) plus there has been no cancer in either side of my family for at least 4 generation.
From what I've read from others here it doesn't sound like your time line is that different than many who aren't IBC.
You might to get a 2nd opinion. Thoughts
Susan0 -
Go ahead and ventDouble Whammy said:Waiting is the worst
I really don't know, but it does seem like a long time to wait. Do you know the grade of your tumor? June is only 3 weeks away, but don't be afraid to ask for a date before then and be sure to let the surgeon know you're worried. I hope s/he will reassure you that this timing is perfectly ok. If you don't feel good about it, ask if they can recommend someone who could do it sooner.
I had IDC (grade 2, very small, one breast) and my surgery happened about 2 weeks after diagnosis. It was scheduled 8 days after my appointment with the surgeon. I was amazed it happened so quickly. Surgery was about 6 weeks after my initial abnormal mammogram.
I know waiting is horrible. All that time to mull things over and worry about the what if's.
Wishing you a good appointment with the surgeon and early surgery date. Please take someone with you. Docs are used to this and also used to being asked every questions conceivable.
Suzanne
Go ahead and vent you have that right.I know exactly what you are talking about.Being put off.I was for 7 weeks after breast center found my tumor.Two or 3 letters to me telling me they want a biopsy but are hearing nothing from my breast surgeon. I call his office.Oh we will relay the message.Then call again and they said something else.The third call I wanted something done like before.I was told make a appt to come in.I didn't want a appt.Just wanted the breast surgeon to OK the breast center to do a biospy.So I have to wait almost 2 weeks to see the breast surgeon.See him and then he said it is so small he didn't think they could get the right tissue.Someone will get it??? So he OK'd the biospy.But then took a week(to long after all this)to Get the biospy.Afer biopsy (next day) I had to go to breast surgeon office. I was told I have BREAST CANCER.DCIS non invasive and will not spread.In the milk duct.Then the appt was made for me to have it removed.From the time tumor was found and the time it came out(because of a doctor's delay) it was 2 months.I was appalled the same way I feel about you.Nonsense.See what you can do.I like my surgeon but at one point I was going to get another.The reason I stayed is beause of my dx being non invasive.Although he did ask me "If it is alright with you I would like to see you again in 3 months".I told him Yes. He is a great surgeon and I was devastated he waited.The doctor I had (before this one retired).He Would have had it all done in 2-3 weeks.He was adamant for many years about my care for my benign tumors I had since I was 20
Seek another opinion.I understand about vacations etc.I believe(but was never told) my breast surgeon was on vacation. JULY.Why?? Because a year later I call his office about the same time and he is on vacation.I dont think the office was truthful.Although if a biospy was needed another doctor in that practice could have ordered it.
You have every right to be taken back on the waiting.Keep on it.I had to.There is no reason any one should have to wait for a biopsy and surgery.
I wish the very best for you.This is not the way it should be.You worrying and waiting for something more to be done and they have other things in their lives.Is there another doctor in practice with him??? If so maybe he/she could do the surgery.I would have gone that far. I had a good dx but with the long wait "I worry" to this day.
Lynn Smith0 -
I was diagnosed diagnosed
I was diagnosed diagnosed officialy Aug. 23. I had all the tests done, saw two doctors, and had the surgery Sept. 14th. And I thought I had to wait a long time. My driving goal was to get the thing out! I'd pursue moving up the date. It makes me mad that ANYONE is low on the scale because of money.0 -
wait
Your concerns are real. If you do not get an answer to how to speed up the process it will be time for action. Have you gotten a copy of all reports so far. If not ask for copies now. If he cannot suggest a colleague who can fit you in sooner let him know that you are not happy with the progress and perhaps he will light a fire somewhere within the system where he works. If not then start shopping with all your reports in hand. Even if it means going to a different city. I am in a fairly populated area so I have several cancer centers within 40 miles of my home. You may not be this blessed. May God guide you and the others involved in this situation in the next several days.0 -
It does seem like a long
It does seem like a long time to wait. Waiting is one of the hardest parts. I was diagnosed in January and had my surgery in February. My surgeon told me to not make a sudden decision on mastectomy or lumpectomy. He said that this was not a medical emergency it was more a "mental" emergency to get rid of the cancer. You have had to wait longer than most people though. It might take several weeks to get in to see another surgeon. I guess just express your concerns to the surgeon. Good luck!0 -
I agree with Linda. WhenGabe N Abby Mom said:My dx is very different and
My dx is very different and so my time line was also very different. I just want to say welcome and that I hope you find this board as helpful as I have.
What I do know is that waiting is (for me) the hardest part of this whole thing. When you see your doc on Thursday, please tell him your concerns about waiting. He may be able to provide some reassurance, he should have an idea based on your pathology if the cancer grows quickly or slowly. Or he may be able to find a way to get your surgery completed sooner (if someone else cancels or reschedules).
Please come back and let us know what the doc says.
Hugs,
Linda
I agree with Linda. When you see your doctor today, let him know how you are feeling and how anxious and scared you are. Hopefully, he can make you feel better about the length of time he is waiting for your surgery. Waiting is so hard and I don't think our doctors fully understand that.
Good luck,
Diane0 -
It is so scary!
Corinna, I was dx in June with invasive ductual carcinoma TN. Lrge cancer in right and small cancer in left. Had a bilateral masectomy the middle of aug. it took that long because i changed dr's and second dr. sent me for many scans and had to wait for all the results. So it was about 2 months for me. I was lucky it did not spread. You are not being paranoid. I was so very worried too. If you are loosing confidence in your surgeon get a second opinion, it may shed new light on things and can't hurt as you have to wait anyway.
Wish you the best.
Annette0 -
It is so scary!
Corinna, I was dx in June with invasive ductual carcinoma TN. Lrge cancer in right and small cancer in left. Had a bilateral masectomy the middle of aug. it took that long because i changed dr's and second dr. sent me for many scans and had to wait for all the results. So it was about 2 months for me. I was lucky it did not spread. You are not being paranoid. I was so very worried too. If you are loosing confidence in your surgeon get a second opinion, it may shed new light on things and can't hurt as you have to wait anyway.
Wish you the best.
Annette0
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