How long between surgery and chemotherapy?

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Not sure if this is the right place to post- has anyone started their treatment journey with surgery first, then followed by chemotherapy?

I had a second diagnosis of cancer in mif Feb. First time round I started with chemo. Then had surgery and radiotherapy.

This diagnosis was discovered following bilateral mastectomies. I have just had lymph clearance (this is my third surgery in 6 weeks). I am booked to start chemo on 18th April. But I am worried about whether I will be recovered after the surgery.

What have others experienced?

Thanks, Rattles, x

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Hi Rattles
So sorry to hear of your 2nd dx once is toooo many times x I can only advise that I had WLE/Node clearance on 27th feb and 1st chemo 27th March exactly 4 weeks after, I found I was ready physically but not sure about emotionally !! Hope this helps hun

Good luck on your journey

Hugs Janice x

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Hi Rattles

for me it was 4 weeks as well - surgery on 7th May 08 and started chemo on 5th June 08.

Good luck
Kinden
x

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Hi Rattles

I looked at the NICE guidelines which said chemo should start within 31 days of surgery. I had a WLE and axillary clearance on 12 October but following the histology report had a mastectomy on 9 November. I started chemo on 5 December but this was partly because I was keen to get started with it asap. A friend started her chemo later than 31 days because her wound hadn’t healed, so I don’t think they would start it until you’re physically ready.

If you’re worried, do talk to the breast care nurses or contact BCC. I’m sure they can put your mind at rest.

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Hi everyone, not sure if this is the right place to post this, but has anyone out there had a lump or swelling above their collar bone as well as breast? i am having chemo first to shrink it before i have mastectomy. I start my chemo on 11th of April. If anyone has please let me know. love lin xx

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Hello Lin,

I didnt have a lump above my collar bone. Not sure if anyone else has?

I am due to start chemo in two weeks- that seems a bit soon afer surgery to me, I dont want to delay it, but just wondering how I will cope. It is helpful to know the NICE guidelines. Sounds like the general rule of thumb isa round 4 weeks then?

Thanks, Rattles

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I had nine weeks between surgery and chemo. No-one seemed concerned at the time.

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I had two ops, WLE and SNB(14/09/10) followed by reconstruction (15/10/10), I also had eggs frozen, and my chemo didn’t start until 09/12/10. No one seemed bothered by the delay, even when I asked for an extra week as I had a party to go to.

I was told that chemo slows healing, so they normally allow enough time for you to recover from the op.
Jen

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Hi

I had WLE and SNB on 27th Feb. negative nodes and am starting chemo on 25th April - that’s 8 weeks.

My onc said for me, chemo should start 6 - 8 weeks post-surgery and within this time frame it doesn’t have any effect whether it is at 6 weeks or 8.