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[Annika]

Hi girls..i need to ask if anyone knows how long it takes from the time your diagnosed with breast cancer until your op is scheduled. My mum went in to see her GP three weeks ago about her shingles, she has had for more than a year. The GP gave her a physical and found a lump in her right breast and sent her to the hospital for a series of biopsies. Then a week later she went back for the results and it came back positive for cancer, she has been told she will have a lumpectomy and if it has spread a complete removal of the breast. My fear is how much waiting around will there be waiting for her operation. Does anyone have any experience with this.( I should say my mum is 77 years old)

[CLKD]

The criteria was to be operated on within 2 weeks.  I would ring the Ward where she is likely to be treated and ask! or ring her GP.  He/she may already be aware of when her admittance date is likely to be.

My Mum underwent complete mastectomy at 66, didn't have any follow up treatment and is still here 22 years later. 

Make a list of your/her worries and questions and speak with the GP.  You may be able to talk with a dedicated breast nurse at the Hospital before surgery with your queries.  You will be in shock so make sure that you get the answers written down!

[Hurdity]

Hi Annika
I have no experience of this but just wanted to say how sorry I am to hear about your mum and hope all goes well with her op.
Hurdity x

[CLKD]

Do you live close enough to visit?  Are you in touch daily?  Physically or by 'phone ….. all issues to take into account in this next journey.

[tiger74]

I have fairly recent experience of this and echo what has been said about talking to the Breast Care Clinical Nurse Specialist who will have been assigned to your Mum's case and will know far more about the details than her GP.  My Breast Care Clinical Nurse Specialist was my absolute rock throughout the whole process.

I don't actually know what the NICE guidelines are as regards timescales from diagnosis to surgery, in fact some breast cancer patients have other treatment(s) before surgery anyway.  Personally I was operated on 2 weeks later but my cancer was high grade and they already knew it had definitely spread to my lymph nodes.  My surgeon said that he would not normally operate any quicker than 2 weeks because of the massive psychological adjustment required to get used to the idea of having a mastectomy.

The Breast Cancer Care website is excellent.  They have a forum too which you may find useful for support (as you're on this forum I guess it's a type of resource you like to use).  Although personally I avoided the forum during my diagnosis and treatment because there can be some erroneous and frankly misleading information peddled on any forum and I didn't want to scare myself by reading all about treatment side-effects that may not even have affected me.

I wish you and your Mum all the best.   

[Joyce]

So sorry to hear that Annika! I do hope she has op soon as it must be an awful worry for all of you. Wishing you & your mum the best. 

[CLKD]

Thanks Tiger.  How are you now?

I had a bone scan before surgery.  Followed by radiation treatment.  No spread thankfully.

[Dyan]

So sorry to hear that Annika.
I wish your mum well.X

[Taz2]

Wishing your mum a speedy recovery Annika.

Taz x 

[lubylou]

Annika,

I have no knowledge about time-scales. I just wanted to say sorry about this news and that I have two friends who had breast cancer and complete mastectomies. That was about 10 and 12 years ago and they are both fit, well and happy. And in one case working too hard!

I hope you get the answer to your question soon. 

Lubylou 

[Trey]

Best wishes to you and your mom, mum, from across the pond.  Waiting is so difficult.

[Limpy]

Best wishes to your mum Annika, hope everything goes well.

[tiger74]

Hi Annika

How are things?  Does your Mum have her treatment plan and/or operation date yet?

All the best.

[Greyhoundgal]

Best wishes to your Mum Annika and I hope she doesn't have to wait too long.

[Annika]

Thanks ladies for all your kind wishes and advice as always you are a great support team. Well so far Mum has had her preOP completed, blood work etc., and they have put her on estrogen lowering pills which she will continue to take now and after her surgery but for now we are still waiting for the date and to see whether or not it might have spread. Hopefully we shall hear soon and I will let you all know how it goes fingers crossed.