How long is too long or should I just not worry

[Allaboutthegirliguess]

Hi everyone,

I received a breast cancer diagnosis august the 13th... after mammograms and biopsy. I was told they were small (2 grade 2 in left breast) and not too worry they would be removed and most likely no need for chemo.

I had a meeting with a surgeon who requested an MRI which was done on the 6th of September. I rang today to ask what was happening as hadnt heard anything and have now been given my next appointment on the 9th of October.

Im gutted its taken so long, my emotions are up and down and am worried this is just growing inside me.

Is this a normal time frame.

The 9th of October will be to get the MRI results from the surgeon.

Thanks for any feedback. Im in east sussex if that makes a difference

This seems quite a long time in between appointments. When I was diagnosed everything happened very quickly.
Have you been given a contact number for the breast cancer nurses? They’re usually good at telling you what’s going on, I’d try and contact them and see if they can give you some timelines.

Talk to your breast care nurses. They will help you understand.

I had two grade 2 tumours, each about 20mm, found in routine screening on Sept 1st, a couple of years ago. Biopsy three days later. Met with surgeon on 20th Sept, surgery on Oct 13th.

I was borderline for chemo, so I chose to have it, which started on Dec 20th.

Waiting is absolutely the worst part. Once your surgeon has explained 'the plan', you will feel much more in control.

Good luck xx

All the breast team, they will be able to help you.

Thank you. I spoke to one of the breast care nurses before I posted here. I asked if this timeline was normal and she said that i would have got the first available space but would send an email to check. She said that breast cancer is quite slow growing so it wouldnt make a big difference.

The tumors were 10 and 14 mm 4th August so quite small.

Felling quite anxious hence why I posted here.

The appointment has been brought forward a week. Thanks for your imput x

That’s good news @Allaboutthegirliguessif you’re happy to, I’d let them know you’ll take a cancellation appointment if they get them. I often get calls from my hospital on a morning asking if there’s anywhere I can go that day as someone’s cancelled!

I think it’s normal ish. Not breast cancer, but quite an aggressive fast growing type of melanoma. Scan results take about 2 weeks. I had biopsy in mid August, results in mid September followed by CT, MRI and another biopsy of a lymph node in mid September, appointment early October and surgery last week of October.

I'm glad your appointment has been brought forward. In my experience, I think they would tell you if it needed to be sooner. For example I asked to delay my chemo a week so that I could attend a friend's wedding. They advised against it, they could not in good conscience advise that I wait another week and so I started chemo on my friend's wedding day. My tumour was stage 2 grade 3, quite large.

I hope you receive a plan for treatment soon and wish you all the best with it 💛

Appointment has been brought forward again! And is now this Thursday.

Bit scary now but its what I wanted

That’s great news and well done for advocating for yourself. The NHS is great but can drop balls, you’re doing the right thing in not sitting on your hands.