I was diagnosed with Grade 2 HER +IDC on 7th August and extensive high grade DCIS in my left breast
I had to go back and have more biopsies done in another area in my breast and received results in 27th August that was also high grade DCiS . I was advised mastectomy and expected to be booked in for surgery that day but instead the specialist said she wanted me to chat about reconstruction options with the surgeon. I agreed and saw the surgeon on Tuesday to discuss options.
It was agreed I’d have a mastectomy with no reconstruction
She told me I’d be out on the list for surgery and should have my op within 4 weeks .
She told me at the appointment that they believe there is also cancer around the nipple area but can’t confirm as it wasn’t biopsied but said as I was having a mastectomy it wasn’t an issue . I apparently have DCIS throughout most of my breast with IDC also .
I expressed concern that I wasnt being operated on within 4 weeks of diagnosis and she assured me it was fine .
I’ve now been told I won’t be given my date until at least one month before surgery meaning it will be well into October and well over two months from diagnosis .
This can’t be right surely ? I’ve spent today feeling really let down after being promised that they are looking at curative , the delays are going to impact significantly on my prognosis
Hello, sorry you’re in this situation. I also had grade 2 IDC with high grade DCIS in one breast and DCIS in other - I elected for double mastectomy, and two tiny IDC foci were found among the DCIS.
Anyway, I was told that with reconstruction there was going to be a nine-week wait (this was private, so I expect the time you have been told is standard for some areas of the country).
I decided against reconstruction due to the wait.
Hope your op goes well xx
Hi @lynnc123 They are doing a straightforward mastectomy with no reconstruction so surely it should be sooner ?
She said on Tuesday it would be within four weeks and that alone would be eight weeks post diagnosis , but now I’m being told it will be longer
Please be reassured by your surgeon, I was diagnosed on November 2nd last year and offered surgery on the 6th December. I asked if my surgery could be delayed until after Christmas which my surgeon agreed to and it was booked for January 2nd. Then unfortunately it was cancelled because of the doctors strike and rescheduled for January 31st a 12 week gap. Of course I regretted asking for it to be delayed when the doctors strike interfered and at the time I wished I had gone ahead with my original date, but it all went smoothly and I am fine. Talk to your team and express your concern they are there to support you. Hoping all goes easy and well for you, please let us know how you get on and remember everybody here has your back and we’re holding your hand. xxx
Hallo @arty1 , I’m so sorry you’re in this horrible waiting time.
If it helps, I was grade 2, stage 2, was diagnosed on 5th May 2023 and had a single mastectomy and lymph node clearance on 29th June, so just under 8 weeks later. I asked the team whether the cancer was likely to grow within that time and was assured that the delay was not an issue at all.
I agree with @lynnc123 that the timeframe may be standard for your area. I am on the South Coast and have just been told that I will be waiting 12 to 18 months for my delayed reconstruction 
.
It’s all so difficult and my heart goes out to you - I think it’s impossible not to panic.
I agree that it might be reassuring for you to ring the Breast Care Nurses, and I hope you have kind, supportive people around you.
All the very best xx
Hi @arty1
Sorry you are having these issues. I found a lump on 2 April, was diagnosed on 15 May 2023 and had my operation on 5 July 2023 that was 7 weeks from diagnosis and 13 weeks from finding the lump.
I know it’s so hard to wait wanting the cancer out but if they felt it needed to be done sooner it would be. I’m sure if they have said it would be curative it still will be. I was told the cancer generally grows very slowly but in our heads we feel it spreading all the time.
@nannabee Im glad to hear everything went well - that does seem like a long wait , you must have felt that surgery was never going to happen !
I’m trying not to panic but because my left boob is swollen and painful it’s not helping matters x
@fran I think what’s worrying me is that it could end up being weeks and weeks from now so could end up being over three months from diagnosis . They keep telling me that even though it’s HER2 that it’s not growing like the clappers but it doesn’t fill me with confidence , how come your surgery wasn’t until the end of June ? Was this because of further tests required ?
@naughty_boob my hospital said surgery would be within 4 weeks from last week , I’m hoping it’s not double that as that would be three months from diagnosis 
it is a worry , I know they reassure saying don’t worry the cancer isn’t rampaging through you … but I don’t believe them 
It’s already 8 weeks since I saw the gp, I said to the breast nurse that it feels like things aren’t moving but she said I promise you they are . I’m in so much pain in that side and now they’ve said they think there is cancer in the nipple I just want my surgery
Well after all that Hospital just rang and offered me 23rd September , relieved and scared at the same time
That’s much better news for you and although you are obviously scared rigid (we all were) you have just two weeks to get yourself organised. Keep busy, keep chatting on here and know that you’ll soon be on here reassuring others. Please keep in touch and nothing you ask or say hasn’t been heard before. Trust me when you think something you are worrying about seems silly so many of us will be able to say “I thought that too” or “I did that”. xx
NO. It most certainly isn’t right, it is appalling and yet another example of our terrible NHS. I would definitely make a fuss and fight your corner. This breaches even their own guidelines.
It’s a huge relief @naughty_boob although a bit terrified now !
@teddy271 I’ve got a date now for 23rd September x
@nannabee It feels pretty real now it’s less than two weeks away , no doubt these two weeks will fly where as if it was two weeks to results you could guarantee those days would drag !
I had invasive lobular cancer and like you it was right through my breast and unable to have construction, which I was fine with as what was left was in situ and the surgeon told me at the time, it wasnt possible, as it will develop into full blown cancer, I also waited over 10 weeks from date to operation, even with grade 3 cancer. I can tell you, its not as bad as you think, honestly. It is the waiting for everything that destroys your mental health and I played out scenarios in my heqd as I had children doing GCSE exams, uni exams and husband working and doing his dissertation, so the lonliness was awful. I had a very good friend who i spoke to daily. My recovery was awful due to blood clots in both lungs which enlarged my heart, but that was just me, then I contracted shingles. But the actual breast cancer surgery was ok. No pain, no difficulties, just do the exercises on here before the surgery and continue them, as you will keep your muscles flexible and i am back.doing kickboxing now 10 weeks after my operation with my “new boob” which i picked up last week, so feel so much better not to be using the softie anymore. I have begun badminton and walking 4 miles a day, although the walking is my mending my mental health, as I blocked out my diagnosis and treatment, so I am now suffering. But onwards and upwards and trying to be positive but I allow myself my awfully sad days. Be kind to yourself and don’t worry, they know about time scales and wouldnt put you at more risk. It is difficult to think of anything else, but trust me, I have come out the other side now, but it is so scary. Now 2 weeks isn’t long but be prepared for waiting for the histology report, usually 4 to 6 weeks. Sending you all my love. Sarah Xx
@sh18 - gee whizz you’ve certainly had it all thrown at you post recovery , I’m so glad you are now on the healing path . I’ve had blood clots so am in lifelong blood thinners which I’ve had to stop ready for my surgery , hopefully I can restart that after my surgery quite quickly .
The operation is on Monday and I’m terrified now !