Is this the normal process for breast cancer diagnosis and treatment?
Community Member
a year agoLong story, I apologize. Been going through testing since Dec. 10th - had mammo, US, multiple biopsies, MRI, shoulder x-ray for shoulder pain. They found one tumor in right breast, between 1-2 cm on ultrasound, >2 cm on MRI. 2 lymph nodes affected. Biopsies for tumor and lymph nodes are the same - ER + PR + HER 2 - Ki67 40%. I just had the shoulder x-Ray and it showed a “vague sclerotic lesion” on upper humerus near affected lymph nodes so now I have CT scan today and bone scan tomorrow. Dr says insurance won’t authorize a PET. Originally I was going to have double mastectomy with ovary removal at the end of the month, now breast surgeon is sending me to oncologist instead to start chemo first: I haven’t done any kind of treatment yet, no hormone therapy either and I feel like we’re just letting it spread while we test and talk about it. Is this the normal process?
Accepted Answer
The diagnostic process can feel overwhelming, especially when new findings lead to changes in the treatment plan. Many patients experience similar feelings of urgency and concern when the timeline shifts from surgery to chemotherapy first, which is often called neoadjuvant treatment and can be an effective approach for certain types of breast cancer. The medical team's thorough approach to staging and understanding the full picture before finalizing treatment is actually an important part of ensuring the best possible care plan for each individual situation.
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Community Member
3 months agoThe diagnostic process can feel overwhelming, especially when new findings lead to changes in the treatment plan. Many patients experience similar feelings of urgency and concern when the timeline shifts from surgery to chemotherapy first, which is often called neoadjuvant treatment and can be an effective approach for certain types of breast cancer. The medical team's thorough approach to staging and understanding the full picture before finalizing treatment is actually an important part of ensuring the best possible care plan for each individual situation.
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