How to navigate my way through

Diagnosed with breast cancer Recently diagnosed with breast cancer
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Hi Everyone,

It’s wonderful to find this forum.  Thanks for creating such a helpful and safe space for people to connect.

I am 67 years old and received my diagnosis and treatment plan on June 28th.  It has filled me with misgivings. 

The diagnosis is Grade 3, invasive ductal carcinoma, oestrogen positive.  

The treatment plan commences immediately with Letrozole.  Surgery is in 6-8 weeks (advised most likely the end of August) - involving wide local excursion (lumpectomy) and sentinel lymph node removal.  I have been told there’s a 6 week wait for the pathology results, followed by a 3 month wait before radiotherapy begins.  Of course, after the first surgery I may need a second op, followed by another wait for pathology results and a delay in treatments.

My question is: Do these timescales seem long to you? Am I over-stressing about the waiting times?

Thanks for reading.

Tough

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:heart:Tough sorry you find yourself on here but glad you found Breast Cancer Now and the forum :heart: everyone will try and help answer any questions and there is always the ask the nurse section or you can ring the number and speak to a nurse and there is also the someone like me option too you might find helpful :heart: we’re all here so ask away or join the threads that you might find helpful :heart: Breast Cancer Now is here as much or as little as you need it :heart:??:sparkles::sparkles:Shi xx

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It seems a long time but it will pass quickly. Breast cancer surgery doesn’t seem to be as much of a medical emergency as people think although for the patient’s peace of mind there are NICe guidelines on how long you have to wait for an appointment with a breast clinic after you find a lump.

NICE stands for National Institute for Clinical Excellence and is the body that decides on the best standard of treatment through out the UK.

Consistency is important whether you are in a small general hospital or a big city one you should get what is considered the best treatment for breast cancer.

Pathology reports may be taking longer than they should if there are staff shortages but these are necessary to know what the cancer looks like under the microscope, as this tells the team key information on size, how quick growing, whether the cancer is close to the edge of the lump etc. 

Seagulls