I have recently been given a lumpectomy date of 24th March. My first referral appointment at the breast clinic was 2nd Jan, so over 11 weeks in between.
Is this an abnormally long time to wait?
I’ll still have results to wait for and radiotherapy appointments to wait for too, and that’s if everything goes to plan. It will be nearly half a year before I actually start treatment at this rate!
I feel more anxious and stressed about this wait than I did in the early weeks of diagnosis. I am ER/PR+ Her2- 2cm lump so not on their urgent list I assume, though it doesn’t make me feel any better. I’m pre-menopausal too so my high levels of oestrogen worry me.
I waited 9 weeks from my breast clinic appointment to surgery, although only 6 weeks from the actual diagnosis date (diagnosis date to surgery is the timeline used by my Trust for targets etc).
Try not to worry (stupid thing to say I know) about the delay in other treatment - my surgeon said that the surgery is the first and most effective treatment
Hi
Take on step at a time surgery first , the waiting is the hardest part once you have had surgery all the other appointments will move fast , they will know exactly what they are dealing with things can change.
Good luck take care xxx
My heart goes out to you, all the waiting, appointments and worry. It’s doesn’t matter what anyone said, at the time we all get so anxious and can be quite upsetting. Maybe have a word with your breast cancer team, asking if you could be put forward should a cancellation become available.
In the meantime try to keep busy, all very easy for me to say, it will all happen sooner than you think.
Thank you everyone for your reassurance. I gave the breast nurses a call earlier and they are going to get the bookings team to give me a call as there is another hospital in the trust that may have an earlier slot, but I had initially said I didn’t want to go to that hospital as it’s a lot further away. I’m not really sure what would be best.
I have been pretty positive since the diagnosis until today, but I have felt really down in the dumps this afternoon and have just wanted to hide myself away.
Hopefully I’ll feel a bit better tomorrow. I just want this surgery over with.
Hi
How your feeling is normal , I think we all go through being down and next day feel totally different it’s a shock when your first diagnosed , choose which hospital which will be easier for you as you will have a few appointments to go to .
Stay positive xxx
I’m with you there . I had a failed procedure under local anaesthetic - I knew it had failed at the time but had to wait for everything to settle down before I they could see anything on the check mammogram . Then waiting for the mammogram took longer than expected by which time I was a nervous wreck. I had my lumpectomy / SNB over 7 weeks after my first procedure and over 11 weeks after second screening . We all get anxious waiting and wondering what’s going on inside of us but the vast majority of ER/ PR + cancers are very slow growing so it’s highly unlikely that the wait will make any difference from a clinical point of view . I was told mine was very low grade and that waiting a bit longer wouldn’t make a difference but you’re right - it doesn’t make you feel any better . However we are at the end of February and in a week or so things will start to happen . Xx
I can’t imagine how stressful it was for you to wait that long in between everything. You just imagine when it comes to cancer everything being done a lot quicker, but it’s all an eye opener once you experience it yourself.
I made the decision today to have the procedure at the other hospital a bit further away as they could offer me a date 10 days earlier, which probably in the scheme of things isn’t a long time but it’s made me feel a bit better.
Thank you for all your support, it’s nice to chat to people that understand.
I understand perfectly why you have done that and would have probably have done the same if the opportunity had been there. Hope everything goes well for you . Xx
It is a long wait, but try not to worry too much as grade 2 doesn’t grow fast. To get to 2cm, took it years. Once surgery is done, you’ll wait for results and then next steps will be planned. I was in same situation one year ago. Waiting is so stressful, but they wouldn’t make you wait that long if it wasn’t a safe option for you.
Best wishes for the operation and good clear margins x
