Topic: dr said pos/waiting for lab

Hi Cathy, I am so sorry that you had to hear that. The same thing happened to me (just this past Feb.14th) actually. Same sequence as you.  My surgeon was very up-front with me and in a strange way, I did appreciate it. I think it gave me a heads-u and processesed before I mentioned anything.  Ofcourse I didn't want to hear it!!! - could not believe it was happening! But most surgeons that perform these type of surgeries are usually correct. Not saying she is not wrong this time but normally not.  My surgeon told me that she felt it was cancer and that she usually gets it wrong one or two times a year. I knew my chances that she was wrong were slim.  It did come back cancerous however, your getting a biopsy and do that right away.  I did.  That will ofcourse confirm it.  It is NOT the end of the world and you will be OK.  Sounds like they may have found it early too.  Keep us posted. We've all been thru it and still going thru it. This board has helped me in this short month SOOO much I can't even tell you. Great info. Ill say a prayer for you tonight Cathy.

Heidi

cjl, I would say the average time is about a week. Unless you went to a cancer center that has a pathology lab onsite and can order it stat, I've found it gets sent out to a lab that has no particular investment is getting the news to you in a very timely way.

That seems to be true of many things in this process. Between two mammograms, biopsy, appt to see a surgeon, then an oncologist, getting a treatment plan, getting the meds ordered, and starting tx, it seemed like is was always nearly a week's wait. I had my screening mammogram 1/29 and I am just having my second of three neoadjuvant chemos tomorrow.

Some cancer centers are well-coordinated, setting you up with a team of drs (surgeon, oncologist, radiologist) who get everything worked out between them. I'm in a situation where I've had to cull together my own team, and I'm the communicator between them. The pro to that is I can easily drop any of them I'm not happy with and find another. The con is that I have to stay on top of a lot more like will the oncologist notify the surgeon that my chemo is done and I'm ready to be evaluated for surgery. I'm the one who has to look at the bigger picture of overall treatment and the time frame for each segment.

I had the pathology report sent to several physicians: my primary care md, my ob/gyn, and the surgeon I had consulted (the biopsy was done my another specialist). I was very sure already that it was cancer, so I scheduled an appointment with the surgeon for the week following the biopsy, and called to make sure it had been received before I came it.

We went over the pathology report. My sister was with me and she did most of the questioning (she's a dr's wife and helped run his office before he retired). I asked about recommendations for different oncologists, and plastic surgeons. Told him who I was leaning towards, to find out if he worked with them before. We also discussed inserting a medi-port for the chemo treatments.

Then I saw the oncologist and discussed the chemo treatment he recommended for my stage and grade cancer. He then went on vacation so I had to wait a little over a week before I could see him again, but I needed a few things done in the meanwhile like the port insertion (back to the surgeon), a PET/CT scan, and an echocardiogram of my heart.

Chemo finally started on 3/20.

I found it helpful to move through the stages that are kind of set up here at this site. "Waiting for Test Results," then "Just Diagnosed," then "Chemotherapy, Before, During and After."  I've also been reading the other ones that I will eventually become involved with, but not having too many questions about them yet (Surgery, Reconstruction, and Radiation), I haven't posted too much.

But don't put the cart before the horse, or one foot in the grave. Wait for your pathology report, as that will give info that people here can relate to, interpret, and give you their experience with a similar cancer.

we'll I talked to the nurse at the Dr's office this morning. (dr is on vac)  she said it came back pos.  Don't really know much except it is dcis and situ.  I guess since the dr was upfront with me and told me it was cancer, I was more prepared for it.  It was the worst feeling, waiting for an answer.  Now from this site and reading up on breast cancer I can prepare for what is to come.  I'm glad they did get it at an early stage.  she set an apt w/surgen for tues to review report and I guess a plan.  and they set up an apt to get an mri on both breasts on the 18th.  I hope from everyone else I will find out what to expect next.  but believe me everyone's messages did really help.

thank you

Cathy

Michele

you have been user since 10/31/05

what type was yours and are you now cancer free

or have you had any more flair ups?

cathy

I have my drs visit on tues 15th to review the plan of action, an a mri of both breasts on 4/18

Do you know what other tests my need to be done.  I don't know until the dr visit if and when I will get a lumpedtomy.  Sounds like reading on these sites that it will be likely.  How long after the dr visit will is the average time the lumpedtomy scheduled ? how long does it take?  will I be put to sleep for it? ( i hope) and about how long will I be out of work?  oh yeah, if I get radiation , how long after the lumpedtomy will that be?  How long does radiation take and what do you have to go throu?  as you see I like to know what comes next and lots of questions.   I feel this is the best area for questions.

thanks

cathy

crazydaisy,

I had my visit with the surgen, she said that there is not a very clear path.  she showed me the mammo's and said that there is a large mass where the DCiS is comming from.   report shows it's 3.2cm,

DCiS, intermediate to high nuclear grade w/central necrosis (whatever this means)  She said a lumpedtomy was out and she recommends a mastectomy.  I am really in shock.  I had no idea that w/dcis this was even a thought.  Why did you get a Mastectomy and how did you make such a hard decision?  did you get reconstruction?  I'm just having a hard time facing that decision. 

Cathy

We'll I had the MRI done on 4/18.  Now again waiting for the results. On Fri I have a apt with the oncologist.  My dr wants me to get a second opinion and talk to other women there and then go back and see her later that same day.  I had a good weekend, but today I'm really wired.  I feel so down.  I feel like because it's stage o, no one takes it serious.  and now I'm getting a Mastectomy.  I just want to cry and scream.  I feel lost.  I think I feel how can I have cancer and they cought it in time and I'm not sick or in any pain, but now I have to get a mastectomy.  I think my nerves are really kicking in. I know I'm going to have more of these days.  How do you get by with acting liking nothing is wrong, and everyone else acts like nothing is wrong.  Everyone is joking about how great it is to get new boobs and I even joke about it but I'm dying inside.

I met with the oncologist and back again with the surgeon.  The oncologist agreed with the surgeon on the mastectony.  the mri showed the mass is 1.6 ap X 3.0 transverse X 5.4 cm.  I'm not really sure what all of that means except the the mass is larger then the mammo showed. it also said that craniocaudally highly suspicious for malignancy. (does anyone know what that means?).  also demonstrates some nodular peripheral rim enhancement postcontrast( ?) AND a 5mm rounded enhancing solid mass likely an intramammary lymph node. AND if that's not bad enough the MRi also showed high t2 weighted signal intensity massed in the liver measuring 1.5 X 1.7 cm.  does anyone know what all this means? 

Hi Cjl56, Have you thought about getting a second opinion? With all they are seeing, I would recommend one. I had two opinions.  I wasn't going to at the beginning. I had a good hospital (local) and they had a breast center (btw are you going to a breast center?) I had a 1.3cm lump on my mamo and then when they went in, they found that it was 1.5cm and found two lumps other too tiny to see  on mamo that were 4mm and 1mm.  Mine though, was invasive which I knew before they went in, luckily unlike yours.  Im so happy yours isn't. I also had cancer in two lympnodes - removed 12. They then told me I should get a mastecotomy since there was more than the expected one tumor. (called I guess "multi-focal") I then decided since I had more than expected when they did my lumpectomy that I decide then to get a second opinion. The 2nd hospital agreed with my treatment plan but disagreed about the mastecomy - they told me (2nd hospital - beth isreal in Boston)  that they didnt think I had to remove my breast. I am presently doing chemo - did they suggest chemo for you? I know sometimes they do chemo when the lump is bigger like yours,- they do that to shrink the tumor so they dont have to do a mastectomy and then instead do a lumpectomy.  Was that mentioned at all. I feel so badly for you. I hate the time-line you are in - it truly is the hardest. If you can, update us please ok. It will be hard but you WILL get thru it. My chemo right now is going pretty well, no side-effects but tired. I can do tired. :) My prayers are with you.  keep coming back - there is sooo much good info. and so many nice people that always answer your questions. I ask all the time!

Best,

Heidi

Well, I had a bone scan, ct scan, etc and go back on wed 5/7 to read all the reports.  I really do have a great dr at a breast center.  The problem with my DCIS is that it there is so much of it in all the ducts that I have no other choice.  I just read Susan Love's breast book and that was really good.  I'm doing good now with everything falling into place.  I just feel weird with going throu all of this. I feel like it's not real because I don't feel sick.

hi cjl, I also had a "spot" on my pelvis and it freaked me out ofcourse until they found out it was just "arthritis" showing up on the scan. Never knew to have arthritis either but ofcourse made me feel better. Had to wait sev. days to find out. It could be anything or nothing.

Heidi

cjl,

Yes, breast cancer certainly changes your prospective on things.

I recently had some tests done by my oncologist because I was having neck pain.

Her statement to me after the first tests "Good news!!! It is not cancer.  You may have a fracture in your neck so we need to do a MRI to rule it out."

Of course, I started laughing (yahoo!!! I may ONLY have a broken neck, no cancer!!!!)

The MRI showed only compressed discs, no fracture.