Why Wasn't I Given Chemo Before My Surgery?

Marilyn - I have almost the same diagnosis and story only am about one week ahead of you (surgery 3/12, first meeting with my medical oncologist yesterday). Trust your team. What I’ve learned is that, for stage 1, the priority is to get the tumor OUT before it has a chance to spread. So neo-adjuvant chemo is not necessarily the norm. The recommendation is to start chemo within 8 weeks of surgery, so when you do meet with the oncologist, look for them to want to move fast. Sometimes my team may not communicate what as much as I’d like about what they are planning, but I trust their actions! Everyone’s situation is different, but if you’d like future updates from someone “one week ahead”, I’d be happy to share. Take a deep breath, you got this!!

Awww, Linda you are so kind. I would love updates from you and I’m so grateful that you offered. I had open heart surgery in 2018 so tomorrow I meet with my cardiologist to discuss the results of the echocardiogram that I had on Monday. I guess that will help with the chemo they put me on. Did you start your chemo? I wish you the

I was given chemo prior to surgery as my oncologist said otherwise it would’ve been a mastectomy right off the bat. I was stage II however the mass was ‘large’. You may not be behind at all. Maybe pre chemo just wasn’t necessary and in that case you’re fortunate. It’s a good thing 😊

Donna, thanks for replying. I’m such a mess.

From what I’ve been told by my oncology team. Surgery before chemotherapy is only recommended for noninvasive ductal breast cancer. I have invasive ductal carcinoma and I am TNBC. So I’m doing my chemo first then surgery. When I found out that I had cancer I just wanted to have it removed immediately. But after 8 weeks of chemo my tumor is shrinking. I’m truly blessed with very few side effects. I had constipation early on, but with guidance from my team I have overcome it. Fatigue is my main issue. But nothing a nap won’t fix. I do get chemo brain the day of treatment….luckily my husband is very understanding and compassionate about it. Just take one day……or one hour at a time. Remember stress is NOT your friend. Breathe.

I had invasive ductal carcinoma stage II TNBC, BRCA2+. I chose to have a double mastectomy. My team of doctors felt it was in my best interest to have the surgery first. I started chemo (AC-T) 4 weeks later.

The protocol( best practices for the best outcomes) is different for different cancers. I had chemo first then surgery, then radiation, as well as Keytruda.

Thanks Jill💗

Best wishes

I had stage 2a and had surgery first followed by chemo and radiation. Initially they thought there was just one small tumor about 7 mm but when they got in there it was a little bit larger and there was another small tumor and some dcis. I had the surgery on December 30th and started chemo on February 9th followed by radiation. No recurrence so far.

I think it depends on the size of the tumor. Over 1 cm means chemo first.

It could be based on the pathology report. It can let the oncologist know how well your tumor will respond to chemotherapy.

I have learned every place handles breast cancer differently. I opted for a mastectomy this year since it was the second time having TNBC in my left breast after 6 years. In my right breast I also had a lumpectomy for TNBC almost 14 years ago and so far so go. Years ago they did surgery first. Things are Different now. But I still had surgery first because chemo with my first two cancers almost destroyed me. TNBC is so hard because of the treatment. Prayers to everyone who is or has gone through any type of cancer or disease 🙏🙏🙏🙏

Call him. He may not see you but him or his nurse should be able to talk to you.

Treatment timing decisions vary greatly between different cases, and many factors influence whether chemotherapy is given before or after surgery. It sounds concerning to have that gap between surgery and your next appointment, but this timing isn't uncommon in treatment planning. Many others in this community have experienced similar waiting periods and questions about their treatment sequence, so reaching out here shows great instincts for getting support during this uncertain time.