Newly diagnosed

Mahjah

Hi there, I've recently been diagnosed with stage 2. I'm rather stressed that I haven't been able to get in sooner to see a specialist. It'll be a month from diagnosis to appointment. I've read of so many of you seeing someone within the week. Is this the difference between public and private? 

Mareealso

Unfortunately Mahjah, I think it depends on where you live. I am in rural Victoria and am in the public system. My testing (mammogram, ct scan and ultrasound) were all spaced approx a week apart for each one in a town 45 minutes away. My surgery was relatively quick from the first appointment with the surgeon to the surgery was a week apart but in a town 1 and a half hours away. I am still waiting to find out what treatment I will be having and it has been a fortnight from my first after surgery appointment. You may find that you will need to be proactive in ensuring that everything is being done in a timely manner. Our public health system does struggle at times ..

GorgyS

Well done, Mahjah, for picking up on that. Understanding the timing of the appointments, tests, and surgeries was something I needed clarity on too. My surgeon mentioned that if I'm under public health, the surgery would be scheduled within a maximum of 4 weeks. However, it actually took 6 weeks after the diagnosis. Nonetheless, both my MRI and CT scans were conducted in the first week following the diagnosis.

Following the lumpectomy surgery, I had an appointment with the surgeon after 12 days. During that meeting, I was informed that a re-excision was necessary, which was then scheduled for another 6 weeks after the initial surgery. The waiting time worried me considerably, so I sought clarification from my surgeon, McGrath nurse, and GP. They all reassured me that it was acceptable. While the waiting period is longer under public health, I don't believe the medical team would endanger our lives due to that fact. And I still do not know what my treatment would be after the re excision. I just try to be patient. I also believe that the type of cancer plays a role in determining the treatment schedule.

It's crucial to ask all  questions to your surgeon, GP, and ensure you have the support of a McGrath nurse. and of course always get in touch with us, other women on this network as we are on the same boat.  

arpie

Sorry to see you both here, @Mahjah and @Mareealso ... but you are in the right spot for answers from those who've 'been there, done that'.

It is always so stressful when the lump is first discovered & then more MG and US (mammogram & Ultrasound) prior to the biopsy ..... and the waiting for the scan results is like sitting on a razor's edge ....

Being diagnosed This time of year can mean delays in being seen .... as most Drs/hospitals are gearing up for the Xmas 'break' and most surgeons don't come back to work til Mid January. 

That's exactly what happened to me back in 2017, just 4 months after a clear mammogram .... my lump was found by accident by my GP in Oct, so I then had another MG & US - and it was still 'undecided', so the radiologist suggested a biopsy being done. 

Being rural/regional, It took forever to get an appt for the biopsy - which ended up being done the day after Boxing Day ...... I got my results on January 5th & I contacted one of the surgeons suggested by my GP (I chose to go private for surgery, so I could get in quicker)  ..... and I got in to see him on his first day back from Xmas Holidays in Mid Jan. I had a Sentinel Node test the next day (to see which nodes the tumours were draining to) and I had my surgery the day after.  So it was almost 3 months to the day, to my surgery, since discovering the tumours.     NOT IDEAL!  My brain was going off in tangents!  

It is easy for me to say @Mahjah - but try not to get too stressed by the time interval from discovery to your first surgeon appt.  Did your Biopsy identify which BC you have?

Try & keep as busy as you can in the mean time, doing things you love doing.  That keeps your brain busy too!   You could start cooking up some meals & freezing them, for easy dinners when you get out of hospital!

If you are feeling stressed/worried, please call our helpline on 1800500258 and have a chat (Mon-Fri) xx

In the mean time, check out this post for lots of info on the forum - including 'tick sheets' to 'self assess' how you are going both physically and mentally xx. Sometimes, It is just easier to fill the sheets in & give it to your team, than to talk about it    Also, tips on what to take to hospital & all sorts of other stuff, too.   Even some 'funnies' to read - god knows we all need a laugh!
https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/23477/a-big-welcome-to-all-our-new-members#latest

Take care & all the best 

Mahjah

Thanks ladies! I called the bcna phone line and had a chat to someone who was very helpful.