I am 28 and was diagnosed with BC on the 7th March. Ive had my four rounds of EC and will be moving onto weekly treatment next week for 12 weeks.
Anyway, after my chemotherapy I will be having a lumpectomy. Im just trying to plan ahead and know everyone/everywhere is different but I was just wondering if people could give me the timeline between finishing their last chemotherapy and having their lumpectomy, please? I’m really nervous and I keep asking my oncologist/BCN but they keep saying “stop worrying about the future” which really isnt helpful, as I am natural worrier haha! I just would like to know if its days, weeks or what? Im stressing myself out over it and I know its far away yet but for my own mental health I need to be able to prepare myself a little.
My hospital seems to be 4-6 weeks between finishing chemo and having surgery. That said, I’m due to have my final chemo tomorrow and I won’t get in to see the surgeon until 3/7 to even get my appointment so maybe that’s too optimistic for me.
My hospital was 6 weeks between chemo to surgery, however, they wanted to do the surgery more quickly (4 weeks after finishing chemo) but they had to change the date because I needed more time to get my white blood cell count up before they would operate, I also got neutropenic sepsis so needed a bit longer to recover from that before surgery.
I was the same and asked to try and just set my own expectations a bit. I was told 4 weeks between EC-T chemo and surgery. Also was told 4 weeks between lumpectomy and radiotherapy
I felt exactly the same when i wasnt given definite information, its so frustrating. I understand you just want to get your head straight and plan.
I had 3 EC then 12 paclitaxel. It was 4 weeks until my mastectomy.
Wishing you lota of luck foe your treatment
Thank you all for the replies, by the sounds of it I’ll have time to recover and have a little rest from the hospital😂. I hope you’re all okay! Thank you again x
Its so frustrating, I know its too early to say a definite timeline but just a rough estimate would be good enough for me to just ease my nerves. I was expecting to finish treatment and be whisked away into surgery the next week haha!
Completely understandable. I found myself extremely tired after EC & then 12 rounds of paclitaxel so was glad of the 4 weeks ro build up my strength before surgery.
Wouldnt do any harm to tell your team how you’re feeling. Be honest & say lack of information is affecting your mental health. Although they cant give you exact dates you do need a timeline & hopefully they can give it.
Good luck
Thank you! One more thing, again I know everyone’s different but how did you find the 12 weeks compared to the EC? Ive found EC really hard to deal with, the side effects knock me for 6 for about a week. Ive spoken to my oncologist and shes reassured me that the 12 weeks is easier, did you find this?
I would say that paclitaxel was easier on me. My hair started to grow back in by the end of taxol but i lost my eyebrows which i found hard.
Recovery from each round of taxol was shorter than recovering from a round of EC but by the end i was extemely tired. Also quite breathless when out walking etc. Oncologist told me it was the cumulative affect of being on treatment for 4/5 months. The 4 weeks rest before surgery rewlly helped get my strength back up.
You can do this
