Waiting for Breast Cancer Treatment: My Experience and Concerns

I know the feeling 🙁was diagnosed with IDC pr and er positive Oct17 don’t see surgeon until Nov 29. I am soo scared

Same here. Diagnosed in July 2023. My first treatment is this Wednesday. I'm having radiation done. I think maybe ( sometimes) it has to do with the type of cancer you have. I'm told mine is very slow growing. I don't know if this makes you feel any better but hormone positive and HER negative is very treatable. And it was very anxiety provoking for me in the beginning ( still is but less so). It did seem like it took forever. Was definitely not I thought it would be. I thought it would all be coordinated. Not so. I had to do a lot of research and get second opinions. I think I have a good team in place now though

Hello I am sort of going thru the same thing. I'm very new. I had a lump removed 20yrs ago. It had a possibility to it but got it all. Now I'm sitting here. Waiting to be told how we're gonna get rid of this. They did an biopsy on my lymphnods and that came back possitive. I'm so concerned. I was stage three. Does this really change it to stage four. There waiting for blood tests to come back. The waiting is so frightening. I have a family I want to be around for. On top of all this I've been a live in caretaker and my client passed away 6 months ago. Her husband's been such support. He's 87 and can't handle what I'm headed for and well my job is done. I've been on disability after having four major back surgeries to survive an infection I had in my spine 18yrs ago. Last surgery was 8yrs ago. I was blessed 3mo. Ago to receive a section 8 voucher and its now running out Dec 4th. Just in time for treatments. I just can't do this in a shelter. There is no room for me at my daughter's and my son of 33 still lives with his dad. I'm so stressed out. I never dreamed my life would be like this. I ran a large country gift shop for years that housed 300 crafters. I was building inventory to open a shop online. That's all in boxes now. I had an apartment for Nov 1st but the landlord backed out 4days before the move. This is unbelievable. I was finally wanting to go back to work after a year and a half of accupunture and massages and that stopped abruptly. I only ask for prayers as we are all going through difficult times. I just wanted to vent. Thank you.

I was diagnosed in end of sept after icu Mamo and ultrasound plus then went to my doctor My doctorcalled the surgeon he wanted me to see. Told me October 26 then he had it moved to 10/17 but the surgeon office called me for 10/05 Told me had to wait for the surgery 10:31 I understand how you feel and you get stressed . Mine was DICU small tumors but still you want it out soon. That why they make you wait cause it slow like mine was slow too but your mine goes bronco on you. Hope you get it all done and care for you. I have radiation not for post treatment they do and have to have hormone therapy lump are negative thank God But now to keep it out Praying for you and all

They need to explains why you have to wait to keep you peace of mind

I am IDC, pr+ and est+ HER2 low. Found a second spot on my MRI and I had to do an MRI guided biopsy yesterday. We only have one machine in town that does the MRI guided biopsy I am told. Hang in there. It is absolutely nerve wracking

Hi Cindy. I'm new here too. I had a routine mammo on 10/19 that came back abnormal, call back mammo & ultrasound 11/6, ultrasound guided biopsy 11/10 of right breast. Diagnosed 11/13 (final labs not reported till 11/24): IDC with lobular features, ES+,PR-, HER2-. Had a consult with surgeon 11/28 who ordered an MRI 11/30 of left breast because there were two "areas of concern". Two mammo guided biopsies 12/5 on left breast. Dec 8, one came back OK, the other: Invasive carcinoma lobular. I have an appointment with the surgeon tomorrow, 12/12, to see where I'm at and where I'm going. So yeah, MRI picked up something the ultrasound didn't. I was originally looking at a lumpectomy and radiation. Now I don't know...

I'm scared to. It's be a quit the show here. They tell me it hadn't mastasised. Good news. It's a fairly large tumor. Over 4. Stage 3. But then another biopsy on my lymphnodes that was mastesised ànd well put me in an advanced stage. I'm all confused. They can't do surgery as it puts me at risk of it spreading. I've waited two months now for answers. I'm getting a class on chemo tomorrow. I just want to starting to get rid of this crap in my body. Your not alone Cindy. There are group meetings through the woman's center. Ask them next timyou go. God bless

@Theresa. I'm so sorry to hear about what you are having to go through. Breast cancer is confusing sometimes. It was/ is for me anyway. My guess is that the doctors want to do chemo first before surgery. I have a friend that did that because she had a tumor about your size and they wanted to do chemo first before surgery. She also had Mets to get lymph nodes. She did have surgery and is doing very well now...and that was over 20 years ago. I hope you get your answers too. 2 months is a long time! Prayer helps me. God bless you.

@melani thanks for that. I am starting chemo on Thursday. I'm so worked up. After months of trying to find a place I found one. I'm hopefully moving the 29th. I'm praying 🙏 the side effects go easy on me. I have 6 months of treatments. Possibly only 5. Every 3wks. Then surgery if the tumors have shrunk. This is not something I got from my family it's something from the environment. I'm furious cause years ago my ex husband and his friend removed the asbestos from all the furnace and pipes in the basement. I begfed them to keep the doors closed and put up plastic. Hmm makes me wonder. My truly only concern is the side effects. I've been very ill years ago from something that landed me in the hospital for 6 months. I'm greatful I'm alive. I'm greatful I'm able to walk again and I'm mad as heck I've got to go thru this crap again. I have a strong faith. He holds my hand daily. I wish you all the best and my prayers are not just for myself but you also. God bless all those fighting any form of cancer.

I’m so sorry for your distress! Vent to us any time.

Yes MRI shows everything sometimes too much. Don’t make any hasty decisions. Make sure you get a second opinion from an outside doctor not from the same facility hopefully a functional oncologist. There sure are a lot of women With hormone positive breast cancer right now 16 year olds are having it too. How is that? Tell me that isn’t in the food in the water. Don’t be scared pray about it God will give you strength and he’ll help you through it give it to him and let him make the decisions. He will put all the right doctors in your path. He will stop things that aren’t supposed to be done to you. You can’t navigate this by yourself dear. It’s hard and it’s a lot. I just went through two years. Good morning got me through it with some of the best doctors I’ll be praying for you.

The waiting periods during cancer treatment can feel incredibly difficult, and it's completely understandable to feel frustrated and scared when appointments get delayed or new findings require additional testing. Many community members have shared similar experiences about additional spots being discovered on MRI scans, and while it's naturally worrying, these detailed imaging studies are designed to catch everything so doctors can create the most comprehensive treatment plan. The emotional toll of waiting is real, and this community understands that journey - you're not alone in feeling this way.