How long was it before you started treatments after you were diagnosed?

TOUGHERTHANIT

Things are crawling along sooooo slowly. With all of this going on even the healthcare system is crippled. I'm afraid that if I don't get started soon I will progress to another stage

GregP_WN

I've had multiple diagnoses covering almost 33 years. The first diagnosis was found, biopsied, lymph node removed, and treatment started all within a month or so. The second was a recurrence, treatment started immediately, the third took a couple of weeks to go through the scans, tests, biopsy, etc. Then once the diagnosis was confirmed it was almost 2 months before I could even get in to see the oncologists. After the first visit surgery was scheduled for 2 weeks later. My latest, 4th diagnosis was slower due to examining all of the options. It took over 2 months from the time of the first biopsy until the major surgery to remove larynx and establish a stoma. So, it depends on your type of cancer, stage, and individual circumstances. We wish you the best and a quick start!

Bengal

This is not a great time to be diagnosed with another illness with everything focused on coronavirus. So sorry you are having to cope with a BC diagnosis but especially now. For me the chronology was, called back for redo of mammography in April, biopsy and confirmed diagnosis in May, lumpectomy in June and finally started on chemo treatments the 18th of July. Time seemed to drag by while waiting to get from one phase to the next but actually compared to how glacially slow some things seem to move in the medical community it was all pretty quick.

Kp2018

I recall the worry about things seemingly moving so slowly after I was diagnosed. I, too, was afraid of my cancer advancing to a higher stage.

My timeline was diagnosis (confirmed by biopsy) by the end of the first week of March, lumpectomy by the end of March, and re-excision by the end of the first week of April. Chemo started by the first week of May.

According to the nurse navigator, starting chemo 60 days from diagnosis was standard of care for my type and stage of breast cancer. With the increased use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, your timeline, if you even need chemotherapy, may be shorter.

As Greg pointed out, it really depends on your type and stage of cancer as well as other factors unique to you.

I can attest that it was a great relief to get any treatment underway. I hope yours gets underway as soon as possible.

And, to allay your concerns about treatment amidst the coronavirus crisis, I have heard of no delays of treatment to cancer patients. My best to you as you embark on your treatment journey.

Lynne-I-Am

From finally being diagnosed to insertion of chest port was three weeks, then first chemo treatment a week later. I too felt time from diagnosis to first treatment seemed like forever. If it had been possible , I would have been there for treatment the very next day. Try to take it “ one day at a time” now and through the course of your treatments. Wishing you all the best going forward.

junie1

I feel your frustration. I have had 3 DX of cancer,, 1st one went swiftly, 2nd one took a bit longer,, more test scans etc. the 3 time,, was less than 4 years after the 2nd DX,, and it took longer than I expected for treatments to start, As people have posted,, there was more scan, exrays, blood work,, and the type of dx, and where the cancer was. Once treatments started they have gone pretty quickly,
Praying for all of us,,

Dltmoll

For me, initial diagnosis was June 2, lumpectomy July 9, chemo August 13 (every 3 weeks for 3 months) and radiation November 18. It seemed like I was waiting forever for the surgery.
This is an even more stressful time to be going through this. Know that you are in my thoughts and I hope all goes well.

BuckeyeShelby

I was diagnosed during a hernia surgery at the beginning of July 2012 -- didn't see the oncologist for 2 weeks. Total hysterectomy end of Aug 2012. Chemo didn't begin until the end of Sept. So it was almost 3 months from finding out I had cancer until chemo.

Lisamoses

I'm sorry you are going thru this. For me, from the time of initial mammogram, to diagnosis to the time of treatment (Chemo, lumpectomy, radiation).... Mammo in July, diagnosis in August and started treatment in September. Hope this helps and best of luck to you.

PaulineJ

July finally after complication getting a decent doctor.That's when things started one after the other.Surgeries July & August,then radiation and oral chemo started in October for radiation As for the Arimidex I stop at 21/2 years out of 5.Couldn't deal with it anymore.

November of 2013,complications with doctor not wanting to do the surgery.So had to go to another hospital (with lies of telling me they wanted me to get a second opinion.So in December of 2013 went to another hospital and finally got an open heart surgery Jan . on 4th.Then nursing home rehab for a couple of months.The rest is history that was very hard .Wasn't getting the equipment I needed 'til it was over months after.

These are only the last 2 sergeries The others are way back in years .

ChildOfGod4570

I am so sorry that you are playing the terrible waiting gme now, especially with attention going to COVID-19. It's true that urgent surgeries such as cancer and the like are still prioritized to save lives, so you should still get your care. For me, the events went as follows:
4-10-13 mammogram
4-12-13 ultrasound in the morning and biopsy in the afternoon
4-25-13 diagnosis given over the phone
4-26-13 first appointment with oncologist to discuss treatment plan
5-12-13 chest port inserted after a second appointment with the oncologist and 2 with the surgeon
5-23-13 first of four rounds of neoadjuvant chemotherapy
5-28-13 PET Scan
6-25-13 second round of chemo, slightly delayed due to neutropenia
7-16-13 third round of chemo
8-6-13 fourth round of chemo
9-3-13 lumpectomy
10-2-13 first of two additional cycles of chemo
10-23-13 final chemo
11-8-13 prep for radiation
11-13-13 begin 33 treatments of radiation weekdays, skipping a few for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New year's.
1-23-14 begin Tamoxifen for 5 years (later raised to 10 years)
Check-ups showing me NED right through March of this year!
I had some PET scans and Nulasta shots, etc between chemo appointments, but I wanted to show you the major steps and when they happened. Please know we're all different and seem to get our treatments at different freaquencies after diagnosis. I know it felt creepy for me having to "keep" the cancer during neoadjuvant chemo, but it all turned out OK in the end! HUGS and God bless.

Carool

My breast cancer was diagnosed on May 5, 1999. Various breast tests, then lumpectomy right after Memorial Day. My tumor was stage 1, triple positive. Had to have a re-excision a month later, because the lumpectomy was still positive for cancer cells at the borders. Saw oncologist in mid-July, I think. Oncologist recommended four A/C infusions, then radiation. I started chemo in early August and finished in November 1999. Then did radiation for six and a half weeks.

I remember being surprised that my breast surgeon wasn’t rushing to remove the tumor. I then understood that there’s often no need to rush to remove the cancer (of course, as said by others here, it depends on the kind of cancer, its suspected stage, etc.). I wish you the best of luck.

Iyana

Hi there, where and when did you got your diagnosis? I know this time is critical for everyone due to COVID-19 any many patients are also affected as they are not able to visit hospitals and routine checkups are also postponed.
Btw have you discussed with your doctor regarding the treatment options? Which treatment option your doctors are going to use to cure your BC and on which stage your cancer is?
I hope you can start your treatment soon for breast cancer.
Best of luck & lots of love!

TOUGHERTHANIT

Now my treatment center is saying that only critical patients and those at risk of turning worse will be treated next week. Looks like I will have another delay.

Iyana

Waiting time is always stressful especially when you are more worried about your condition. I hope this waiting time will end soon.
best of luck!

Kp2018

TOUGHERTHANIT, I am so sorry that your treatment is being delayed. That must be incredibly anxiety provoking and exasperating.

Knowing about your breast cancer may help reduce some of your angst. Some breast cancers are considered to be less aggressive, and slower growing than others. The term that is used is "indolent." If your breast cancer type falls into this category, a delay in treatment may not be as concerning as it would be if you have a more aggressive type.

It is well worth the time to thoroughly research your breast cancer and treatment options. I sincerely hope hope yours is in the "indolent" category.

legaljen1969

My time from diagnosis to "treatment" seemed to move at breakneck speed. The only delay in the timeline was due to my own request that if it were not "emergent" I wanted to spend the holidays with my family and just take advantage of normalcy.
I had my mammogram on 11/8/19. I had my follow up on 11/15/19. I had an appointment with my surgeon by 11/25/19. I don't know if that is the protocol everywhere, but here you get set up with your surgeon immediately and then the rest of the treatment team is put together. I had my biopsy and marker placement on 12/10/19 and a definite diagnosis of DCIS by 12/16/19. It was getting close to Christmas and we were scheduled to go on a cruise to celebrate my 50th and my father's 80th birthday. I asked if I could get some sort of doctor's note to present to the travel insurance. My doctor said she wasn't in a rush and we could get things underway after the holidays as her surgical calendar was mostly full for the rest of December, but if she had a cancellation and I felt strongly she would slide me in.
I elected to resume after the holidays. I had my appointment with the radiation oncologist and medical oncologist on New Years Eve. I had a SAVI scout implant scheduled for Monday 1/21 prior to the lumpectomy. They did another mammo to check for placement fo the SAVI Scout. The radiologist came in to tell me he was going to have to check with my doctor to determine if she wanted it between the "two areas" or if they were going to do something else. They rescheduled me for 1/22 for the placement and I had the lumpectomy on 1/23. On February 3 I got the news that there was much more DCIS than anticipated and she couldn't get clear margins so we would move forward with mastectomy. That was a shock and I felt like I had been hit by a truck. PET Scan 2/10, MRI 2/13 showed no evidence of BC in other breast. Surgery 2/26.
The scary news was over. All good prognosis since then. No lymph node involvement. Got news on 3/12 that Oncotype DX score low. Low risk of recurrence and no significant benefit to chemo. I was prescribed Arimidex. I have been taking it since 3/12. A few more hot flashes but not too bad otherwise. I had a couple of incidences of some joint pain in the first week but I am tolerating it well so far. Maybe the debilitating parts come later.
Anyhow, I feel like other than side effects from Arimidex, I have basically gone from beginning to end in less than 4 months.
Early detection was a huge thing for me. I couldn't even feel a lump. If they hadn't seen the calcifications on the mammogram I wouldn't even be on this site discussing cancer yet.

legaljen1969

TOUGHERTHANIT, I hope you get back on track with treatment sooner rather than later so that you will feel a little more confident.
For those of you who are in treatment delays, perhaps it is of little comfort, but I guess it is good that you are not considered critical or likely to become worse in the time you are delayed. I know that is how I felt when my doctor was not in a hurry to schedule surgery. I felt like I had time to wait. I know not everyone has that experience.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Danfan714

The first time it was 3 months, the second time I went straight to operation.

JustGrateful

Just about every facility around us is up in the air about who can come, what procedures are being allowed. We even have different doctors arguing over what is considered elective and what is essential.