I had a WLE and SNB done last thursday 13th oct and i am due to get my results on monday 24th. Im just wondering how long usually after receiving the results to treatment starting does it take?
I know i have to have RADS and tamoxifen but i won’t know about the chemo untill monday. Will i get some sort of plan on this day?
Also can i opt to have chemo if they say i don’t need it?? Just to make sure that if any horrible little cells have gone floating off somewhere they can be zapped!
This may all sound a little silly but i am still so confused by all the different treatment and procedures and i just want to make sure i have the best chance of getting rid of it and hopefully not returning. I have only just turned 30 and it still feels like its not quite happening to me.
I was DX on the 22nd sept and despite having the operation felt quite positive but can’t seem to stop my brain thinkng of the what if’s and nearer my result date i’m getting worse.
I had an ultrasound on my armpit and they said it looked fine but i dont know how accurate they are??
I came out from getting my results and went almost straight in to see the oncologist and discussed what further treatment I needed. I didnt need Chemo and was quite glad so didnt discuss this any further.I got a prescription for Tamoxifen there and then and a “prescription” was written for radiotherapy - he said normally the radiotherapy would have started quite quickly but I am diabetic and my wounds still hadnt completely healed and they would not be able to start until they had. I had my planning appointment 2 weeks later and started rads 2 weeks after that.
Whether they decide to give you chemo or not depends on a number of things including the grade and whether the lymph nodes are involved, hormone status, etc. Mine was grade 3 with no lymph nodes involved (even though one of them was swollen on the ultrasound), but also triple negative, so chemo was definite, particularly as I was 34.
I think they normally say a max of 8 weeks after surgery before chemo starts, they like to give you time to heal as chemo can slow down healing.
You may also find that they give you extra Rads due to your age depending on the location of the lump. I had 25 normal and 8 booster.
I found it that once I had my treatment plan it was easiest just to focus on one thing at a time, ie get through chemo before focusing on rads. The waiting is definitely the worst bit though.
Fingers crossed that you get good results on Monday, take someone with you if you can, as there will be a lot to take in.
I’m sure you will have lots of questions and this forum is the right place to ask them, there are so many lovely people at different stages of treatment that are a brilliant source of info. I was diagnosed just over a year ago and finished treatment in June and have found the support invaluable.
I had a follow up with the surgeon for results two weeks after and immediatley prescribed letrozole, and then referred to oncologist (a couple of weeks after that) for prescription of radiotherapy. Radio therapy eventually started probably about 7 weeks after surgery. My hospital don’t like to start it until 6 weeks post surgery to give time for the healing process.
Well i need chemo as was a grade 3 so just wondering when this should start. only had my results on monday but being me want to get it started yesterday!!
How long till i see the onc to sort out plan and how long after that till i start chemo? also will i have chemo and herceptin together?
I also had my SNB on 13 October, I’m still a bit sore and swollen under my arm, how’s your wound? I was given a heart shaped cushion from the hospitals Big C centre as they are hand made especially for SLNB’s to give your arm support.
I was diagnosed with BC on 6 October, so far have had a bone scan, CT scan, pre-op assessment and SLNB. I am waiting for the results from all of these. I was told that the hospital had a multi-disciplinary team meeting yesterday to discuss my case and have an appointment with my consultant on 3 November, I presume to hear the results of tests and treatment plan. My treatment is chemo first, then mastectomy, then rads, then reconstruction.
I hope you have a clearer idea of what’s happening next week.
yes still a bit sore but am out and about and even going back to work on saturday. Just waiting for the letter to see my onc so i know when i can go out and start shopping in prep.
Its all starting to make me grumpy with hubby and kids because i cant plan anything
Thanks for message. Yes I know the grumpy feeling, I’ve been feeling very irritable and short tempered, I thought it was hormonal lol. My arm is aching more today, I think it’s because I have been trying to do too much too soon, the consultant said I would know about it if I overdid things! I will be glad when treatment plan in place, chemo should start in 2-3 weeks if all goes to plan. People keep talking about Xmas, but I just don’t feel like getting festive at all :o(
I’m not going back to work until I know how I am after chemo, they maybe just for a couple of days a week, to keep wolf from the door lol.
Let me know how you get on. Think you’re in the November Chemo Club?
